Macau tax take up 203% through first nine months of 2023 to US$5.7 billion

The Macau government collected a total of MOP$45.8 billion (US$5.68 billion) for the first nine months of 2023, representing a 203% increase over the same period last year.

The strong improvement includes tax take of MOP$6.65 billion (US$826 million) in September, up 3.3% on August and yet again the highest monthly tally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The September result is related to Macau’s gross gaming revenues for the month of August, which saw the industry generate a post-pandemic high of MOP$17.21 billion (US$2.12 billion) in GGR.

Total revenue generated by the government through September sits at MOP$57.5 billion (US$7.14 billion), meaning gaming tax has contributed 79.6% of Macau-wide income for the period, while gaming tax of MOP$45.8 billion represents 90.0% of the amount budgeted by the government for the full year.

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Macau’s recovery slowed in September due to the effects of Super Typhoon Saola, however analysts are expecting October to set another post-COVID high on the back of a strong National Day Golden Week holiday period.