Macau is now allowing businesses to apply for ISP licenses, as long as they leave the gambling to the casinos.

The Office for the Development of Telecommunications and Information Technology for the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) made the announcement on Sept. 28, marking the end of the Internet services monopoly in Macau, according to the Sept. 28 Xinhuashe (Xinhua News Agency).

An administrative session of the MSAR passed the bill on Sept. 27. The bill stipulates that applications for ISPs will be accepted beginning Oct. 1.

The bill describes the following Internet services: public Internet access services, e-mail, electronic messaging, database access and retrieval, Web hosting, application and database hosting services, bulletin board systems and e-commerce.

Businesses may apply for permission to provide any or all of these services, but online lotteries or gambling services are banned.

Companies incorporated in Macau or elsewhere may apply. ISP licenses will be valid for one year, the story said.

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