High-rolling VIPs help Macau casinos pull in gaming revenues of US$37.6 billion in 2018
- Macau’s casinos register revenue growth for 29 straight months in December
Gambling revenue in Macau rose 14 per cent in 2018, the second consecutive year of gain as demand to wager in the Chinese territory continued to rebound from a prolonged slump.
December was also the 29th straight month where revenue in China’s only legal gambling hub rose versus the same month a year prior, according to data released on Tuesday by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
Revenue rose 16.6 per cent to 26.47 billion patacas (US$3.3 billion) versus the 10-15 per cent estimates of analysts polled by Reuters. Revenue for the full year was 302.85 billion patacas.
Revenue has stabilised since a period of decline, which coincided with a central government campaign against conspicuous spending among public officials.
However, a US-China trade war and slowing Chinese economy is likely to weigh on sentiment in the high-roller VIP segment, keeping any further revenue gains checked, analysts said.
Nevertheless, casino executives are bullish on the potential benefits from the opening last year of the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge and tunnel, linking Macau to the financial centre of Hong Kong and mainland China’s Pearl River Delta.