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Macau August GGR slips 1.2% as recovery stabilises

August gaming revenue edged lower, though year-to-date GGR remained ahead of 2025.

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Key Points
August GGR fell 1.2% year over year to MOP21.89bn (US$2.71bn)
Year-to-date GGR reached MOP169.05bn, up 3.7%
Premium mass betting remained resilient despite fewer high-value players

Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) declined slightly in August, with casinos generating MOP21.89bn, down 1.2% from MOP22.16bn in the same month last year.

Despite the modest monthly decline, the market remained ahead of last year's pace overall. Total GGR for the first eight months of 2026 reached MOP169.05bn, representing a 3.7% increase compared with MOP163.05bn during the same period in 2025.

The August result also marked an improvement from the sharper declines recorded in June and July, when monthly GGR fell 12.1% and 8.4%, respectively. Analysts have attributed the earlier weakness partly to the impact of the football World Cup, with gaming activity now showing signs of stabilising.

Macau Monthly Gross Revenue 2026 (MOP M)

Recent observations by Citi suggest player spending remains healthy despite changing betting patterns. The bank's latest table survey found premium mass wagers increased 7% year over year to HK$14.3m (US$1.82m), even though the number of premium mass players declined 16% to 525. The average wager per player climbed 27% to HK$27,284, indicating higher spending among active premium customers.

At the same time, mass-market baccarat became more accessible as average minimum bets fell 13% year over year to HK$1,901. Citi also identified 31 high-end players during its August survey, seven more than in July, with their average wager rising 54% from a year earlier to HK$243,548.

Macau's tourism sector has also continued to support the market. Visitor arrivals increased approximately 2% in July, while the first half of August recorded around 10% year-over-year growth, according to the Macao Government Tourism Office. Officials acknowledged that international visitor numbers remain below expectations, citing geopolitical uncertainty and reduced flight capacity, but said promotional campaigns and airline partnerships are being expanded ahead of a busy events calendar in the second half of the year.

With major events including the Macau Grand Prix, International Fireworks Display Contest and Food Festival still to come, authorities are aiming to sustain visitor momentum while encouraging tourists to explore more of the city's cultural and neighbourhood attractions.

Good to know

Macau's August GGR was the closest monthly result to 2025 levels since revenue declined in June

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