Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun has warned that moves to open up his exclusive gambling franchise would lead to 'cutthroat competition, chaos and disorder'.
The gambling supremo's warning comes amid speculation that the current franchise, which gives Sociedade de Tourismo e Diversoes de Macau (STDM) the right to run all gambling in Macau, will be opened up to competing operators when it expires in 2001.
The Portuguese colony is handed back to China in two years' time.
The STDM boss has also spoken of his plans to open a 10th casino in a new hotel development at the Macau Jockey Club on Taipa Island to service increasing passenger traffic through Macau airport.
An initial plan for a plush gambling outlet on the airport site is understood to have been ruled out for security reasons.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post Mr Ho said STDM should retain its monopoly, claiming that competition would reduce government tax revenue and create chaos.
But other business interests in the enclave say casinos are already open to competition, with VIP rooms inside STDM-run casinos 'franchised out' to other interests.
