Macau sees worst monthly performance since crisis

Macau’s gross gambling revenue plunged 97 percent in June, its worst monthly performance since the Covid-19 crisis began.

According to figures from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, GGR in the month totalled just MOP716 million, down from MOP28.8 billion last year. The June decline follows a 93 percent drop in May and a 96.8 percent drop in April. 

For the year-to-date, GGR is down 77.4 percent.

Macau’s casinos were closed for a two week period in February at the height of the coronavirus crisis in China and despite a steep decline in both that month and March, volumes had been improving. 

However, Macau imposed draconian border controls after a wave of imported cases, which include a ban on entry from anywhere outside of greater China, while those travelling from Hong Kong or Taiwan are subject to quarantine. 

Authorities have been in discussions to create a travel bubble between Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese province of Guangdong, which analysts say would give a significant boost to GGR in Macau.