Gaming taxes down 56.5% in Jan-May period

Gaming taxes collected by the Macau government between January and May fell 56.5 percent year-on-year to MOP21 million (US$2.6 million), according to data from the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) on Monday.

The figure accounts for 42 percent of the MOP49.98 billion that the government expects it would collect by the end of 2020. 

Falling GGR over the last five months has been attributed to border closures and restrictions as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

In May, the SAR government collected only MOP500 million in gaming taxes, due to gross gaming revenues falling 93 percent year-on-year in the month. 

In a note from Bernstein on Monday, the brokerage expects Macau GGR to fall 93 percent year-on-year in June, as the long wait for the lifting of travel restrictions continues.