GGR hits new post-pandemic high in August

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) surged to MOP22.16 billion in August, hitting a new post-pandemic high and marking a 12.2% increase from August 2024, according to data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) yesterday.

Fueled by strong summer visitor arrivals, this performance not only surpassed July’s previous monthly record but also represents the second consecutive month that casino revenues exceeded MOP22 billion.

August is traditionally a peak season for local tourism, attracting families from mainland China before the summer holidays conclude.

The result last month also marks the fourth time this year that monthly GGR has topped MOP20 billion – the original estimate set by former government Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng.

However, earlier in the year, the current administration, led by Sam Hou Fai, revised this annual figure downwards to MOP228 billion after GGR in the first quarter of 2025 “did not meet the expected average monthly target stated in the Fiscal Budget.”

First-quarter GGR for this year stood at MOP76.5 billion, yielding an average GGR of MOP19.1 billion and prompting the adjustment.

According to DICJ data, August’s total of around MOP22.16 billion was slightly higher than July’s figure of around MOP22.13 billion, up 0.14% month-on-month.

This is the second month that GGR has exceeded MOP22 billion consecutively.

Looking at year-to-date figures, gaming revenues for the first eight months of 2025 rose 7.2% year-on-year to MOP163 billion.

However, compared to the MOP198.22 billion recorded during the same period in 2019, cumulative revenue remains 17.7% below pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, visitor arrivals are also on the rise. Macau welcomed nearly 3.5 million travelers in July, close to 98% of the pre-pandemic figure, with official August data expected to show further growth.