Macau’s gaming sector has seen a remarkable resurgence, generating 24.1 billion patacas (€2.6 billion) in revenue last month, marking the highest monthly total since October 2019, as reported by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). This impressive figure comes despite the challenges posed by Typhoon Matmo, which led to the elevation of the tropical storm signal to level 8—resulting in the suspension of public transport on October 4.
October’s soaring revenues coincided with China’s National Day celebrations, also known as the “golden week,” which this year enjoyed an extended duration of eight days, including an additional day off due to the proximity of the Lunar Cake Festival on October 7. This period represents one of the most significant holiday movements in China, second only to the Lunar New Year celebrations.
During this “golden week,” Macau welcomed a total of 1.14 million visitors, an increase of 16.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, over 191,000 visitors arrived on October 4 alone, setting a record for daily arrivals during this holiday period. The 15.9% year-on-year revenue growth for October has surpassed analysts’ predictions, with JP Morgan Securities estimating an increase between 3% and 6% and Seaport Research Partners forecasting a 10% rise. The October figures reflect 91.1% of the revenue achieved in the same month of 2019, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, when revenues stood at 26.4 billion patacas (€2.86 billion).
In terms of cumulative revenue, the first ten months of 2025 have seen an 8% increase over the previous year, totaling 205.4 billion patacas (€22.2 billion). Macau concluded 2024 with total revenues of 226.8 billion patacas (€24.5 billion), a notable 23.9% increase from the previous year. Initially, the Macau government projected that revenues for 2025 would reach 240 billion patacas (€25.9 billion), a 6% rise. However, a revised budget approved by the territory’s parliament in June reduced the revenue forecast by 4.56 billion patacas (€492.7 million).
As the only region in China where casino gambling is legal, Macau continues to attract tourists and gaming enthusiasts alike. The territory is home to six major casino operators: MGM, Galaxy, Venetian, Melco, Wynn, and SJM, all of which had their concession contracts renewed in December 2023 for another decade, effective January 1, 2024. This revival in gaming revenue is a promising indicator for Macau’s continued economic recovery and resilience in the face of global challenges.