Macau’s gross gaming revenue reached MOP$15.21 billion (US$1.88 billion) in June, representing a slight 2.3% decline compared to May but still the second highest monthly tally since January 2020.
According to information from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the June total was 514% higher than June 2022, when Macau’s GGR was MOP$2.48 billion (US$307 million).
It also fell just shy of the May 2023 figure of MOP$15.57 billion (US$1.93 billion), which remains the highest monthly GGR tally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first six months of 2023 combined, Macau’s GGR is up 205% year-on-year to MOP$80.14 billion (US$9.93 billion).
Industry analysts have credited the return of live performances to Macau – including the month-long residency of Cantopop legend Jacky Cheung at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena, and concerts by K-pop group BLACKPINK at Galaxy Arena and Hong Kong performer Leon Lai at Studio City – for providing a significant boost to mass market revenues in recent weeks.
June was also benefited by the four-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, which attracted a total of 366,935 visitor arrivals including more than 100,000 visitors on two consecutive days last week. Macau averaged around 108,000 visitors per day in 2019.
The rapid change in fortunes for Macau’s casinos comes after the government announced the scrapping of almost all COVID-19 border restrictions as of 8 January 2023, including the removal of testing requirements for visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It also disposed of mandatory hotel quarantine for foreign tourists and the need to provide any negative COVID tests either prior to or upon arrival.
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