Trump company applied for casino trademark in Macao

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A company linked to US President Donald Trump has been granted approval from the Chinese territory of Macao for additional trademarks, including casino services, to develop the "Trump" brand in the world's biggest gambling center.

DTTM Operations LLC, which listed the address of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York, received four trademark approvals on June 7, online documents from the Macao government show. They include real estate services, construction and development, hotel property, food and beverage and conference facilities.

Trump, a wealthy real estate developer with a sprawling business empire, has said that he has handed over his business interests to a trust overseen by one of his sons and a Trump Organization executive. However, he remains linked to the trust financially.

US President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with administration officials on the opioid addiction crisis at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on August 8, 2017. /AFP Photo

Trump's trademarks in Macao date back to 2005 when he registered under the names Donald J Trump, DTTM and Trump Companhia Limitada.

There is currently no Trump-branded property or casino facilities in Macao where US billionaires Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn have their multi-billion dollar lavish gambling forts.

Macao's casino operators, which also include Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts, SJM Holdings and MGM China, have reaped billions of dollars from Macao's casino boom. Gambling revenues in the special administrative region belonging to China surged by more than seven times that of Las Vegas' prior to 2014.

Part of the shopping center for the Venetian hotel is pictured in Macao on June 11, 2009. /AFP Photo‍

Now on a more tempered growth route, Macao's casino industry is still the most sought-after destination for operators, despite rival Asian hubs like the Philippines and Singapore posting solid growth due to its proximity to the Chinese mainland.

Macao's casino licenses will start to expire in 2020 and the government has yet to comment on what the new process will be, apart from stating there will likely be a new bidding process.

Source(s): Reuters