Macau’s casino industry has shown remarkable resilience, as evidenced by its gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the calendar year 2025. The city’s government announced on New Year’s Day that casinos collectively earned MOP247.40 billion (approximately US$30.86 billion) over the year. This substantial increase, recorded by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, marks a 9.1 percent rise from the previous year. It signifies Macau’s strongest annual performance since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted global economies in early 2020. Macau's last peak in 2019 saw an annual GGR of just under MOP292.46 billion, highlighting the 2025 recovery's scope as it reached about 84.6 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Month-by-Month Growth and Forecast Adjustments
December alone brought in MOP20.89 billion, maintaining optimism with a 14.8 percent year-on-year increase despite a slight month-on-month decrease of 0.9 percent from November’s MOP21.09 billion. These figures are not solely about recovery; they reflect strategic financial planning by the Macau government. In June, adjustments were made as authorities lowered their 2025 GGR prediction from an earlier estimate of MOP240 billion to MOP228 billion.
This revision underscores the volatile nature of post-pandemic recovery. The government’s cautious optimism can be gleaned from the projected MOP236 billion in casino revenue set for 2026. During a presentation at Macau's Legislative Assembly, Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tai Kin Ip, termed the projection as “prudent," noting the impact global economic variables could have on Macau’s gambling sector, yet without further elaboration on these external influences.
Strategic Economic Considerations Moving Forward
The context for these shifts centers around Macau's reliance on international economies, making its revenue projections inherently cautious in nature. With Tai Kin Ip acknowledging the external risks without further detailing them, policymakers seem to be navigating a complex international economic environment that requires flexibility and adaptability. This dynamic approach reflects Macau’s broader strategy to sustain economic growth amidst an unpredictable global landscape. While the forecast for 2025 was adjusted, the commitment to reach levels close to those pre-pandemic remains clear.
Macau's GGR figures illustrate a persistent pursuit of economic stabilization and growth, shaped by both internal policy shifts and external economic factors. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders are likely to watch for the continued impact of international factors, as well as potential policy adjustments that could influence future revenue streams. As the city seeks to balance growth with economic stability, the insights from 2025’s performance will undoubtedly inform decision-making processes to maintain Macau’s position as a leading global gaming hub.
Source: Macau's 2025 GGR: US$30.86bln; December up 14.8pct y-o-y, GGRAsia, January 1, 2026
Posted by Wizard
Jan 05 2026
Jan 05 2026
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