Macau’s June Revenue Decline

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) reported Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) for June amounted to MOP18.52 billion ($2.29 billion), marking a 12.1% year-on-year decrease. This figure also reflects an 18.1% drop from May’s GGR of MOP22.61 billion ($2.80 billion). Analysts had anticipated this downturn, influenced by competing interests such as the FIFA World Cup.

World Cup’s Competitive Impact

Experts point to the expanded structure of this year’s FIFA World Cup as a significant factor in the diminished gaming demand. With 104 matches scheduled, it offers more distractions compared to previous tournaments like UEFA Euro 2024 with 51 matches and the 64 matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Visitor Trends During June

Despite the gaming revenue decline, the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from June 19-21 boosted visitor numbers, with over 380,000 arrivals. This influx was supported by public holidays in Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China, facilitating cross-border travel according to police data.

Mid-Year Performance in Contrast

For the first half of 2026, Macau’s casino GGR reached MOP126.90 billion ($15.72 billion), showing a 6.8% increase year-on-year. Nonetheless, this performance lags behind the same period in 2019 when GGR was MOP149.50 billion ($18.53 billion), illustrating lingering recovery challenges.

Conclusion

Macau’s gaming industry continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery with external events like the World Cup influencing performance. The market dynamics in the second half will be crucial for assessing long-term trends.