Macau premium-mass wagers rebound 33% in July to HK$13bn

Macau's observed premium-mass wagering rebounded to HK$13bn in July, representing a 33% increase from the previous month.

Despite the sequential improvement, the figure remained 19% below the HK$16bn observed in July 2025. The survey was conducted shortly before an anticipated typhoon approached Macau and Hong Kong, with lighter foot traffic recorded during the property visits.

A total of 581 premium-mass players were observed, down 15% year-on-year, while average wagering per player declined 5% to HK$22,367.

High-stakes activity showed a similar trend. The survey identified 24 "whales," unchanged from June but down from 35 a year earlier. Average wagering among these players increased 9% month-on-month to HK$182,500 but remained 13% lower year-on-year.

Galaxy Macau stood out, accounting for 43% of observed premium-mass wagers, compared with 35% last year. The property's performance coincided with the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League Finals Macao 2026, highlighting the potential of non-gaming events to attract higher-spending visitors.

The latest premium-mass figures come as Macau's traditional junket segment continues to shrink. 

The number of registered junket entities has declined to 29 from 31 in late March, despite authorities setting a quota of 50 operators for 2027. Under regulations introduced in 2022, each junket can only work with one gaming concessionaire.

The broader casino market also softened during Q2, with GGR falling 7.4% sequentially to MOP61.2bn (US$7.57m) from MOP66bn in Q1. Baccarat generated MOP35.2bn during the quarter, while VIP baccarat contributed MOP15.9bn.

June marked Macau's first year-on-year monthly GGR decline of 2026, partly attributed to the FIFA World Cup, although subsequent estimates have indicated an early recovery in gaming activity.