Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell 12.1% from a year earlier to MOP$18.5 billion ($2.29 billion) in June, marking the enclave’s weakest monthly performance since September 2025 as the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup weighed on casino spending.
Data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) showed June revenue also declined 18.1% from May.
Despite the monthly slowdown, Macau’s GGR for the first six months of 2026 rose 6.8% year-on-year to MOP$126.9 billion ($15.7 billion), although the pace of growth eased as comparisons with the previous year became more challenging.
Industry analysts attributed part of June’s decline to the World Cup, being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, which diverted some players’ betting budgets away from Macau casinos.
Analysts had anticipated a weaker June, noting that the expanded 48-team tournament features 104 matches compared with the traditional 64, potentially extending its impact on gaming spending.
Analysts at Citigroup expect Macau’s casino sector to recover quickly after the tournament, supported by a strong calendar of entertainment and sporting events.
Those include concerts by K-pop groups Babymonster, TWS and Enhypen, Taiwanese singer Zhao Chuan, and the NBA China Games featuring the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks.
The average monthly GGR in the first half of the year stood at MOP$21.15 billion ($2.62 billion), above the MOP$19.66 billion monthly average required to meet the Macau government’s full-year revenue target of MOP$236 billion ($29.21 billion).