Bee Macau factory begins production of Bee 68 cards and Bee Click‑Shoe

The Bee Macau factory began large‑scale production in early May and held its official opening on Tuesday 13 October 2026, the company said. The plant will manufacture a new playing‑card deck, “Bee 68,” with integrated tracking facilities, and a dealing shoe called the “Bee Click‑Shoe” featuring an innovative cartridge system. The investment to establish the facility was circa HKD500 million (US$63.8 million).

## Local production of the Bee 68 deck and the Bee Click‑Shoe

The facility will produce the new Bee 68 playing‑card product, whose press release states the decks will have “integrated tracking facilities”. The Bee Click‑Shoe dealing shoe will also come off the production line, described by the manufacturer as equipped with an “innovative cartridge system”. The official statement adds that selected casino decks from Bee will begin to carry the Made in Macau label.

The factory is the result of five years of planning, technological development, testing and a pilot production programme, Bee Macau said. The company describes the facility as “one of the largest Belgian commercial investments established in Macau to date.”

## Who is behind it: corporate structure and background

Bee Macau is a joint venture between the Belgian Cartamundi Group and Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong Stock Exchange‑listed company headquartered in Macau. Asia Pioneer Entertainment operates across several segments, including distribution of third‑party gaming technology.

Cartamundi acquired United States Playing Card Co., a firm historically associated with the Bee brand, in December 2019, according to the purchase announcement at the time. The group’s approach has been to combine global expertise with local partners to bring advanced manufacturing capabilities closer to customers in the Asia‑Pacific region.

“Cartamundi is Latin for ‘cards for the world’. That idea has guided us from the start: combining global expertise with strong local partnerships.” — Stefaan Merckx, chief executive officer, Cartamundi Group

## Management messages and commercial objectives

Herman Ng, chief executive officer of Asia Pioneer Entertainment, said in the statement that cards produced in Macau will be distributed globally and that this will demonstrate the quality marketed as the “Macau standard”. Jason Pearce, chair of Bee Macau, said the industry had demanded higher standards in security, traceability and environmental responsibility. Pearce highlighted that the plant combines integrated authentication, AI‑assisted quality control and sustainable packaging solutions to meet those expectations.

## Regulatory approvals in Macau

The casino regulator in Macau, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, approved in July of the previous year the models “Bee‑tek Click Security Dealing Shoe (2.43.6n)” and “Bee‑tek Security Dealing Shoe (2.42.6n)”. In May 2026 the regulator also authorised the “Bee‑Tek Security Dealing Shoe Firmware (v2.42.7n)” and the “Bee‑Tek Click Security Dealing Shoe Firmware (2.43.16n)”, according to approval records reviewed by GGRAsia.

The existence of specific approvals for the shoe and its firmware indicates the devices and their software passed the technical checks required by the local regulator before commercial use in casinos within the jurisdiction.

## Implications for operators and the Asia‑Pacific supply chain

Localising production brings Asian operators closer to suppliers with shorter lead times and regional quality control. Cartamundi has emphasised the goal of serving Asia‑Pacific customers with “speed, quality, security and reliability”. For operators seeking traceability and authenticity controls in physical gaming material, Bee Macau’s offering could represent a locally certified alternative.

Decks with integrated tracking and a cartridge‑based shoe aim to respond to explicit industry demands for security and traceability, while providing a commercial argument to replace imported material with locally certified product.

## Financials and scope

Establishing Bee Macau involved an approximate investment of HKD500 million, equivalent to US$63.8 million, the May statement said when the factory began operations. Asia Pioneer Entertainment appears as the local partner with presence in Macau, while Cartamundi brings technology and inherited manufacturing expertise, including integration following its acquisition of United States Playing Card Co.

## What comes next

The company has said cards produced in Macau will be distributed globally; the statement does not detail shipping schedules or initial production volumes. It also does not specify which casinos or markets will receive the Bee 68 decks or Bee Click‑Shoe first. For operators and suppliers the key indicators to watch are commercial availability and the plant’s initial deliveries.

For information on the regulatory framework and approvals in Macau, operators can consult the [regulation](/regulation) section and for product materials related to casinos, the [casino](/casino) section offers operational context.