Gambling Economy and Social Protests in Macao: A Happy Problem?

This article examines gambling-related protests in Macao, focusing on two types: "cost-challenging protests," which oppose the social and economic costs of the gambling industry, and "benefit-sharing protests," which seek a fair distribution of economic benefits from the gambling sector to residents. Analyzing 754 protest events from 2000 to 2021, the study finds that benefit-sharing protests constitute the majority (69.1%) and primarily target the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government and casino corporations to demand improved local employment, staff benefits, and social welfare. Conversely, cost-challenging protests (30.9%) focus on labor rights, smoking bans, and urban design, often targeting construction companies and casino operators. The research highlights that increased gambling revenue correlates with a rise in benefit-sharing protests and a decline in cost-challenging protests, suggesting that economic growth in the gambling sector influences public protest dynamics and expectations for welfare distribution in Macao.