Macau’s casino industry reported a marked decline in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during June, with Monthly revenue fell 12.1% from the previous year as the expansion of the FIFA World Cup appears to divert betting activity away from the city’s casinos.
Figures published by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) show June’s GGR reached MOP18.52 billion (US$2.29 billion), marking an 18.1% decline from May’s MOP22.61 billion (US$2.80 billion). According to Inside Asian Gaming, the monthly results represented Macau’s weakest performance since September and were generally in line with analysts’ expectations ahead of its release.
Despite the weaker month, casino revenues for the first half of 2026 remain higher than last year. Between January and June, Macau generated MOP126.90 billion (US$15.72 billion) in GGR, an increase of 6.8% compared to the same period in 2025.
However, revenue in the first half was still below pre-pandemic levels. The six-month total was still 15.1% lower than the MOP149.50 billion recorded in the first half of 2019.
Expanded World Cup weighs on casino spending
Industry analysts had predicted weaker gaming results in June and July due to the FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Some research firms suggest that this year’s tournament could have a bigger impact on casino demand than previous international football competitions due to its expanded format.
The 2026 World Cup features 48 participating teams and a total of 104 matches, far more than the 64 matches played at the previous World Cup and more than double the 51 matches played during UEFA Euro 2024.
Analysts believe the larger schedule has encouraged some players to allocate more of their gambling budgets to sports betting rather than casino gaming, thereby contributing to a decline in visits and gaming volumes in Macau.
June’s results also reflect the first full month of World Cup competition. At the time of the earnings announcement, the tournament had entered the Round of 32, with nearly three weeks of play remaining before the final.
Holiday tourism supports the arrival of visitors
Even though gaming revenue is declining, Macau still benefits from strong visitor traffic during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
The three-day national holiday, held from June 19 to June 21, drew more than 380,000 visitors, according to police data. Simultaneous public holidays in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China help support cross-border travel during the festival period.
Even so, the increase in visitors was not enough to offset the decline in gaming demand throughout the month.
For the second quarter as a whole, Macau casinos generated gross gaming revenues of just under MOP61.03 billion. The figure represents a small decline of 0.1% compared to the same period last year, when second-quarter GGR slightly topped MOP61.11 billion.
Recovery is expected after the tournament ends
Although June delivered weaker results than usual, analysts expect casino activity to pick up after the World Cup ends.
Citigroup previously predicted that Macau’s recovery would be supported by a busy entertainment schedule designed to attract regional visitors during the second half of summer.
The calendar of upcoming events includes performances by K-pop groups Babymonster, TWS and Enhypen, as well as a concert by Taiwanese singer Zhao Chuan. Macau is also scheduled to host the NBA China Games featuring the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks later this year.
These events are expected to provide additional tourism demand after the World Cup ends, helping casino operators regain momentum after a temporary slowdown related to international football.
Although June put a halt to Macau’s current growth trend, the first-half numbers bear that out the market continues to outperform last year overallalthough year-on-year comparisons have become more demanding since May. Analysts will now be watching to see whether gaming revenue improves in the months following the conclusion of the expanded World Cup tournament.
