Manuel Joaquim das Neves was director of the bureau for 18 years. Photo: David Wong

The head of Macau’s gambling regulator today announced he will step down, amid new regulatory challenges facing the industry and 16 consecutive months of declining gaming revenues. Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau Manuel Joaquim das Neves, 56, told local broadcaster TDM he intends “to take a break”, and “devote more time to family and leisure”, adding he did not have any other professional commitments.