Full Breakdown
Macau Launches Third Five-Year Plan Aiming to Cut Gaming Dependence
8/20/2026, 1:38:06 AM
Core Event – Unveiling of the 2026-2030 Development Blueprint
On a Tuesday in 2024, the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government released the final version of its Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, covering 2026-2030. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai presented the plan at a press conference, describing it as a “major event” for both the government and civil society. The plan sets out four flagship infrastructure projects, a government-guided fund, and policy reforms intended to diversify the economy away from casino gaming.
Background & Context – Gaming-Dominated Economy and National Alignment
Macau’s public revenue has long been underpinned by gambling, with MOP$67.9 billion (US$8.4 billion)—more than 80 % of fiscal income—generated in the first seven months of 2024. The blueprint aligns Macau’s development with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and seeks deeper integration with the Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area.
Key Figures & Groups
- Sam Hou Fai – Chief Executive, MSAR
- Dora Ng Wai Han – Secretary for Economy and Finance
- Raymond Tam – Secretary for Transport and Public Works
- O Lam – Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture
- Chan Tsz King – Secretary for Security
- Wong Sio Chak – Secretary for Administration and Justice
- Cheong Chok Man – Director, Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau
Timeline
- May 20 2024 – Start of a 40-day public consultation on the draft plan.
- June 28 2024 – End of the consultation, incorporating 8,230 opinions.
- Tuesday, 2024 – Official release of the final plan (exact date not disclosed).
- 2026-2030 – Implementation period.
Data & Statistics
- Gaming tax revenue accounts for 80-85 % of fiscal income.
- The plan targets the added-value share of non-gaming sectors to rise to around 60 % of GDP by 2030, up from 56.7 % in 2024.
- Four major projects and a government-guided fund will drive diversification into modern finance, healthcare, advanced technology, and the convention industry.
- A city-wide building health-check survey is slated for the second half of the year to support urban renewal.
Official Statements & Responses
- O Lam outlined a talent-recruitment system covering high-end, outstanding, and advanced professionals, linking recruitment to the “1+4” industrial strategy and promising support in housing, education, and healthcare.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The SAR government will resolutely implement the holistic approach to national security, adhering to the principle of central leadership and SAR responsibility, and will continue to refine the top-level framework for national security.” — Security Chan, secretary
What’s Next – Implementation Priorities
The government will mobilize policy support and capital for the four flagship projects and the guidance fund, leveraging market forces and enterprise initiatives. Coordination with Hengqin will focus on rule-alignment and infrastructure connectivity. Urban renewal will follow a “pilot first, then expand” model, beginning building surveys in the second half of the year and extending revitalisation around the UNESCO-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s. The plan also calls for legislation and controlled trials of an official digital currency, the “e-MOP,” and the establishment of a unified cross-border settlement system.
These steps aim to shift Macau’s economic structure, increase the contribution of non-gaming sectors, and embed the region more fully within China’s broader development agenda.
