Local gambling rates drop to new lows

Results of a study on Macau residents participation in gambling activities has shown that the gambling participation rate and prevalence of gambling disorders among Macau residents have continued to decline.

Since 2007, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) has commissioned the University of Macau’s gaming research institute to conduct the survey.

The current edition of the study’s questionnaire was sent out between May 18 and June 8, and 2,003 local residents aged above 18 years old were interviewed.

The survey results show that the percentage of Macau residents who gambled in the past year was 40.9%, which represents a drop of over 10 percentage points from the 51.5% registered in 2016.

Sixteen out of the 2,003 respondents may have gambling disorders, which means that the latest prevalence of gambling disorder of Macau is 0.8%, also falling from the 2.5% verified in 2016.

The five most popular gambling activities among Macau residents are Mark Six Lottery (26.5%), social gambling (12.6%), casinos in Macau (9.4%), football and basketball betting (7.6%), and slot machines (4.8%). Apart from a slight increase in the participation rate in football and basketball betting, the other four recorded varying degrees of regression.

The survey further conducted research on respondents’ betting frequency during the 2018 World Cup. Results show that betting frequency after the World Cup saw a marked decrease compared to before the event.

During this survey edition, interviewees were also asked about using gaming centers to play games that involve money transactions. Results show a participation rate of 0.7%, with one respondent possibly having a gambling disorder.

Overall, according to the survey, gaming participation rate of Macau residents dropped from 59.2% in 2007 to 40.9% in 2019. The prevalence of gambling disorders has been gradually declining from 6% during the peak of 2007 to 0.8% in 2019. JZ