Macau June Gaming Revenue Falls 12.1% Year-on-Year

Macau’s casino industry reported a noticeable decline in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during June, with monthly takings falling 12.1% from a year earlier as the expanded FIFA World Cup appeared to divert betting activity away from the city’s casinos.

Figures published by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) showed June GGR reached MOP18.52 billion (US$2.29 billion), marking an 18.1% decline from May’s MOP22.61 billion (US$2.80 billion). According to Inside Asian Gaming, the monthly result represented Macau’s weakest performance since September and broadly matched analysts’ expectations ahead of the release.

Despite the softer month, casino revenue for the first half of 2026 remained ahead of last year’s pace. Between January and June, Macau generated MOP126.90 billion (US$15.72 billion) in GGR, an increase of 6.8% compared with the same period in 2025.

However, first-half revenue remained below pre-pandemic levels. The six-month total was still 15.1% lower than the MOP149.50 billion recorded during the first half of 2019.

Expanded World Cup weighs on casino spending

Industry analysts had anticipated weaker gaming results for both June and July because of the FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19.

Several research firms suggested this year’s tournament could have a larger effect on casino demand than previous international football competitions because of its expanded format.

The 2026 World Cup features 48 participating teams and a total of 104 matches, substantially more than the 64 matches played during previous World Cups and more than double the 51 matches staged during UEFA Euro 2024.

Analysts believe the larger schedule has encouraged some players to allocate a greater share of their gambling budgets toward sports betting rather than casino gaming, contributing to lower visitation and gaming volumes in Macau.

The June result also reflected the first full month of World Cup competition. At the time of the revenue announcement, the tournament had entered the Round of 32, with nearly three weeks of matches still remaining before the final.

Holiday tourism supports visitor arrivals

Although gaming revenue declined, Macau still benefited from strong visitor traffic during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

The three-day public holiday, held from June 19 to June 21, generated more than 380,000 visitor arrivals, according to police data. Simultaneous public holidays in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China helped support cross-border travel during the festival period.

Even so, the increase in visitors was not enough to offset softer gaming demand throughout the month.

For the second quarter as a whole, Macau’s casinos generated just under MOP61.03 billion in gross gaming revenue. That represented a marginal decline of 0.1% compared with the same period last year, when second-quarter GGR slightly exceeded MOP61.11 billion.

Recovery expected after tournament ends

While June produced weaker-than-usual results, analysts expect casino activity to improve once the World Cup concludes.

Citigroup previously forecast that Macau’s recovery would be supported by a busy entertainment schedule designed to attract regional visitors during the second half of the summer.

The upcoming events calendar includes performances by K-pop groups Babymonster, TWS and Enhypen, as well as concerts by Taiwanese singer Zhao Chuan. Macau is also scheduled to host the NBA China Games featuring the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks later this year.

These events are expected to provide additional tourism demand after the World Cup ends, helping casino operators regain momentum following the temporary slowdown linked to international football.

Although June interrupted Macau’s recent growth trend, the first-half figures indicate that the market continues to outperform last year overall, even as year-on-year comparisons have become more demanding since May. Analysts will now be watching whether gaming revenue rebounds during the months following the conclusion of the expanded World Cup tournament.