Macau gaming revenue hits $2.62 billion in May, highest since pandemic onset

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) surged to MOP 21.19 billion ($2.62 billion) in May, the highest monthly total since January 2020, according to data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) on Sunday.

The figure marks a 5.0% increase year-on-year and a 12.4% rise compared to April’s MOP 18.86 billion ($2.34 billion). It also surpasses the previous post-pandemic peak set in October 2024, when monthly revenue reached MOP 20.79 billion ($2.57 billion).

May’s result represents 81.7% of GGR from the same month in 2019, before COVID-19 restrictions devastated the world’s largest gambling hub. Analysts attributed the strong performance to a robust Labour Day Golden Week holiday from May 1 to 5, with daily revenue reportedly exceeding MOP 1 billion.

Total GGR for the first five months of 2025 reached MOP 97.7 billion ($12.1 billion), up 1.7% from a year earlier. The monthly average stands at MOP 19.54 billion, slightly below the MOP 20 billion average required to meet the Macau government’s full-year target of MOP 240 billion.

The solid May performance comes after a subdued start to the year and is viewed by analysts as a potential turning point for the sector heading into the second half of 2025.

May, along with August and October, is typically one of the city’s strongest months for casino revenue due to seasonal tourism peaks and public holidays in mainland China.