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Macau’s gaming industry is showing strong momentum heading into the final months of 2025, buoyed by a record influx of visitors during the recent “Golden Week” holiday period. New data suggests the city’s casinos are on track to outperform expectations, setting the stage for one of Macau’s most successful years since the pandemic.
According to a new analysis from CreditSights, the upbeat sentiment comes after the eight-day Golden Week celebration from 1–8 October delivered an impressive surge in tourism. The period, which this year coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, drew roughly 1.14 million visitors, marking a 17% year-on-year increase from 2024. Average daily arrivals climbed to 143,000, while the single busiest day, 4 October, saw an unprecedented 191,000 visitors cross the border — the highest figure ever recorded for a single day.
When comparing only the traditional seven-day span (1–7 October), Macau still logged a 7% rise in total visitors to 1.06 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 8%. Mainland Chinese travellers continued to dominate the visitor mix, accounting for about 83% of all arrivals — roughly 880,000 people. That figure represents an 8% jump from 2024 and stands 11% above 2019 levels, reinforcing mainland China’s vital role in sustaining Macau’s tourism and gaming recovery.
September Slightly Softer, But Annual Growth Holds Firm
While October began on a high note, September’s gaming figures showed a more modest performance. Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) of MOP 18.3 billion (€2.1 billion) for the month, up 6% year-on-year, but short of the 9% growth analysts had anticipated. The softer result followed a strong summer streak, when GGR grew at an average rate of 17% between June and August.
The slowdown was largely attributed to seasonal factors and disruptions from Super Typhoon Ragasa, which forced casinos to close temporarily for around 1.5 days late in the month. Even so, the overall trend remains encouraging: from January through September, GGR reached MOP 181.3 billion (€20.6 billion) — a 7% increase over the same period last year and already 80% of Macau’s annual goal of MOP 228 billion (€25.9 billion).
2025 Targets Well Within Reach
With the tourism boom extending into October, analysts believe Macau’s casino operators are well-positioned to achieve — or even exceed — their yearly targets. To meet the official forecast, the city only needs to maintain an average monthly GGR of MOP 15.6 billion (€1.8 billion) through December, a figure comfortably below the current average of MOP 20.1 billion (€2.3 billion).
Should the strong momentum persist, Macau could close out the year with as much as MOP 240 billion (€27.3 billion) in total gaming revenue — a clear sign of renewed strength across the city’s entertainment and hospitality sectors.
Despite occasional setbacks from typhoons and seasonal fluctuations, Macau’s recovery narrative remains solid. Visitor confidence continues to grow, casino floors are bustling once again, and spending levels show no sign of slowing down. All signs point toward a vibrant final quarter for the world’s largest gambling hub.
Source: Sigma.world
