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The Macau government raised MOP$7.83 billion, or US$969 million, through gaming taxes in August.
The amount marked a rise of 9.5% compared with the gaming tax paid in July. However, it was 8.0% less than the tax amount seen in August of last year.
The gaming tax collection in August was based on Macau’s gross gaming revenue, or GGR, generated in July. Taxes from gaming revenues are disclosed after the relevant revenue period, meaning that the tax collection in August was based on revenues earned in July.
In July, Macau’s GGR amounted to MOP$20.3 billion, or US$2.51 billion. The gaming revenue earned in July was 8.4% lower year-over-year.
The drop in Macau’s GGR for July was echoed in the tax collection by the Macau government in August. Even though the gaming tax collection grew compared with July, it was still below the amount collected in the corresponding period in 2025.
Gaming Taxes Remain Main Revenue Source
For the first 8 months of 2026 combined, Macau’s revenue from gaming taxes reached MOP$66.2 billion, or US$8.19 billion.
This was 6.9% higher than the gaming tax revenue collected during the same period in 2025. The increase shows that, despite the August year-on-year decline, cumulative gaming tax revenue remained ahead of the previous year’s pace.
Macau’s total government revenue from January through August stood at MOP$76.6 billion, or US$9.48 billion.
Gaming taxes accounted for 86.4% of the total government revenue collected during the 8-month period. This means gaming duty remained the largest component of Macau’s public revenue in 2026.
The contribution of gaming tax revenue continues to be significant when compared with other sources of income recorded by the government. Of the MOP$76.6 billion total revenue collected during the period, MOP$66.2 billion came from gaming taxes.
Budget Progress for FY26
The Macau government has announced an annual budget of MOP$92.5 billion, or US$11.5 billion, for gaming duty revenue in fiscal year 2026.
Gaming tax revenue collected in the first 8 months of the year has reached 71.5% of that budget.
The MOP$66.2 billion collected from January to August represents more than 70% of the full-year target, leaving the government with the remaining months of 2026 to reach the annual budgeted amount.
The first 8 months included varying monthly gaming revenue results, but the cumulative tax collection remained above the figure reported for the same period in 2025.
July GGR Drives August Tax Result
Macau’s August gaming tax collection was tied directly to the MOP$20.3 billion GGR recorded in July.
The GGR reading for July showed a shortfall of 8.4% compared to the same period last year. The consequent tax revenue generated from the gambling industry during August also declined by 8.0% year-over-year.
The gap between the 8.4% shortfall in the GGR and the 8.0% decline in tax revenue is due to the monthly figures released by the Macau government.
Despite the annual decline, August gaming tax revenue was higher than the tax revenue reported in July. The 9.5% month-on-month increase brought the monthly collection to MOP$7.83 billion.
Source: Inside Asian Gaming
