Casino earnings in Macau reach highest point since pandemic outbreak, marking a significant recovery in the gambling hub's industry.
Unleashing Macau's Casino Resurgence: A Gambling Boom Unlike Any Other
Last month, Macau's gaming sector roared back to life, notching up its strongest monthly performance since January 2020. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) confirmed an impressive MOP 21.19 billion ($2.62 billion) in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in May 2025.
The figure exemplifies a brisk 5% year-on-year increase and smashes the post-pandemic peak set in October 2024.
Behind this stampede, the Labour Day Golden Week (May 1-5) played an essential role, drawing close to 850,000 visitors to the casino hotspot, bolstering casino activity considerably. Daily GGR might've even reached MOP 1 billion during this festive period.
Additionally, the soft launch of Capella Macau—a lavish hotel nestled within Galaxy Macau—electioneered VIP turnover by an estimated 25-30%. Industry analysts were swift to recognize higher VIP win rates of 3.5-3.7%, pushing average daily GGR to an astounding MOP 700 million for the month.
However, despite May's stellar results, year-to-date GGR only amounted to MOP 97.7 billion, a marginal 1.7% ascension compared to the same period in 2024. The average monthly income stands at MOP 19.54 billion, shy of the MOP 20 billion target designated for the government's full-year forecast of MOP 240 billion. At present, the total revenue stands at 77.7% of pre-Covid levels compared to 2019.
May's 12.4% growth over April continues a three-month streak of improvements. Experts believe that further triumphs lie ahead before October's National Day Golden Week, as Macau's casino industry continues to gallop past competitors, including Las Vegas, which faced a revenue slump in Q1 2025.
Casino followers attribute the industry's resurgence to several factors:
- Golden Week Frenzy: Hundreds of thousands of visitors flooded Macau during the holiday period, providing a timely boon to the gaming sector.
- Mass Market Magic: The less extravagant casino-goers, collectively known as the mass market, have demonstrated astonishing resilience in contributing to overall revenue growth.
- Slow but Steady VIP Ascent: Although VIP revenue still grapples with pre-pandemic levels, there's been a gradual upswing in high-stakes gaming that has set the stage for promising profits.
- New Attractions and Savvy Marketing: The opening of Capella at Galaxy Macau lured premium clientele, while targeted promotional events designed to attract mainland Chinese tourists bolstered performance.
- Infrastructure Upgrades and Diversified Revenue Streams: Modernized interconnections and swankier facilities, along with swelling contributions from non-gaming sectors, contribute to the industry's flourishing health.
- Luxury Entertaining and Winning Combo: Big players like Wynn Resorts and Sands China expertly fuse luxury experiences with gaming opportunities, drawing in visitors and transforming them into cash-strapping gamblers.
- Las Vegas, traditionally a beacon for casino-and-gambling enthusiasts, is facing a revenue slump in Q1 2025, while Macau's casino industry continues to dominate and grow.
- The resurgence of Macau's casino industry, as demonstrated by the strong performance in May 2025, can be attributed to factors like the influx of visitors during the Golden Week, the contribution of the mass market, and the slow but steady rise in VIP gaming.
