Despite a slow start to the month ahead of China's National Day Golden Week in October, Citigroup has maintained its positive forecast for Macau's gaming market. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) for September 2026 is projected to rise 12% year-on-year, reaching MOP 20.5 billion ($2.55 billion USD).
Early September Performance Indicators
- Initial Revenue: Total GGR for the first six days of September reached MOP 3.8 billion ($473 million USD).
- Daily Run Rate: Average daily revenue fell to MOP 633 million ($78.8 million USD), representing a 10% drop from August's average ($87.9 million USD per day), though remaining 4% higher than September 2025 levels.
- Segment Breakdown: VIP betting volume declined by 8% to 10% compared to August, while mass-market GGR contracted by 10% to 12%.
Non-Gaming Catalysts Drive Recovery
September is historically a shoulder month before the major October holiday period. However, Citigroup expects a strong rebound in foot traffic during the second half of the month, driven by high-profile non-gaming events.
Major crowd pullers include concert performances by K-pop acts BABYMONSTER, Super Junior-83z, and TWS, alongside the World Table Tennis Champions Macao 2026 tournament hosted at Galaxy Macau.
