Macau's Gaming Revenue Hits 49-Month High Amid Easter Holiday Surge

Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) soared to MOP19.50 billion ($2.42 billion) in March, marking a remarkable 49-month high. This figure reflects a 5.5 percent increase from February's MOP18.5 billion ($2.29 billion) and a slight 0.01 percent rise from the previous post-COVID high recorded in October, according to data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the local regulator. Year-on-year comparisons reveal a substantial 53.1 percent surge in March's GGR.

However, despite these impressive figures, the current GGR remains 24.5 percent lower than the pre-pandemic levels seen in March 2019 when it stood at MOP25.8 billion ($3.21 billion). For the first quarter of 2024, Macau's casino GGR amounted to MOP57.33 billion ($7.12 billion), indicating a significant 65.5 percent increase from the previous year. Nonetheless, it still falls short by 24.7 percent compared to the same period in 2019, which recorded a GGR of MOP76.15 billion ($9.46 billion).

The surge in GGR during March coincided with the Easter holidays, observed from March 29th to April 1st. Official statistics reveal a substantial influx of visitors to Macau during this period, with a total of 330,000 arrivals in the first three days alone. Notably, visitor arrivals peaked on the second day, reaching 122,000 visitors.

Easter, while not a public holiday in Mainland China, is celebrated in Hong Kong and Macau. Consequently, Macau experienced increased tourist traffic, particularly from Hong Kong, resulting in congestion on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Overall, March's record-breaking GGR and heightened visitor numbers underscore Macau's resilience and continued attractiveness as a premier gaming destination, despite ongoing challenges and fluctuations in the global tourism landscape.

By fLEXI tEAM