Macau’s casino industry recorded its lowest monthly revenue of the year in June, generating 18.5 billion patacas (€1.96 billion). The figure marks a 12.1% decline compared to the same month last year, according to data released today by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
The June results also represent a sharp 18% drop from the 22.6 billion patacas (€2.39 billion) raked in during May. Despite the summer slowdown, the territory’s gaming sector remains on a positive trajectory for the first half of the year, with total cumulative revenues reaching nearly 126.9 billion patacas (€13.4 billion)—a 6.8% increase year-on-year.
Financial analysts point to external sporting distractions as the primary driver behind the monthly slump. Prior to the release of the official figures, investment bank Citigroup noted that the ongoing FIFA World Cup was noticeably weighing on Macau’s gaming revenue due to decreased foot traffic and lower betting volumes from mainland Chinese players.
According to analysts, the tournament—which runs through July 20 across Canada, the United States, and Mexico—is causing a shift in consumer spending. Budgets that high rollers and casual gamblers typically reserve for Macau’s baccarat and blackjack tables are instead being funneled into soccer wagers.
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Citigroup emphasized that this iteration of the World Cup could deal a heavier blow to Macau than past tournaments. The 2026 expansion marks the first time the competition features 48 teams playing a total of 104 matches, resulting in a significantly longer tournament window and sustained competition for gamblers’ disposable income.
While legal sports betting is strictly prohibited in mainland China, a significant number of bettors routinely turn to illicit online platforms to wager on major international tournaments. The high-stakes environment has also drawn intense law enforcement scrutiny; last month, authorities in neighboring Hong Kong arrested 19 individuals—including soccer players and coaches—implicated in an extensive match-fixing and illegal gambling ring.
Within Macau itself, sports gambling is tightly regulated. The Macau Slot (Sociedade de Lotarias e Apostas Desportivas de Macau) holds the territory’s sole concession to operate legal soccer and basketball betting. The operator posted 163 million patacas (€17.3 million) in gross revenue for the first quarter of this year, handling over 1 billion patacas (€106 million) in total wagers during that three-month period alone.
Macau closed out the previous year with total gaming revenues of 247.4 billion patacas (approximately €26.3 billion), a 9.1% increase over the prior year. Known globally as the world’s gambling capital, the semi-autonomous city remains the only territory under Chinese sovereignty where commercial casino gambling is legally permitted.
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The local market is controlled by six major concessionaires—MGM, Galaxy, Venetian, Melco, Wynn, and SJM—all of which renewed their 10-year operating contracts in December 2023, anchoring their market presence through 2034.
