Average weekly gross gaming revenue in the Macau SAR has almost increased three-fold in a few weeks as movement restrictions were lifted, but will likely be subdued during and after the Chinese New Year period, a report by Deutsche Bank analysts points out. The investment bank has also produced estimates for the gaming market segments by 2023, forecasting that the local mass market is expected to recover to about 85 per cent of 2019 levels by next year
“As such, and while we acknowledge this could be a stretch, mass revenue does not necessarily need to be higher than 2019 levels, for Macau property EBITDA to exceed 2019 levels, should VIP revenue equate to or exceed 50 per cent of 2019 levels”
At MOP114 million (US$14.1 million) by the end of 2022, weekly gaming result averages have gradually increased with the removal of pandemic movement restrictions in the region, jumping to MOP263 million by January 9 and to MOP314 million by January 15.
Therefore, according to Deutsche Bank predictions by 2024, the mass market would amount to US$16.6 billion, more than half of the predicted US$26 billion in gross gaming revenue for that year, with the VIP market left with US$8.1 billion. Macau’s new gaming law – in force since January 1 of this year – only allows junket operators to provide services to one gaming operator, with most concessionaires expected to shift to a predominant focus on premium mass or directly managed VIP customers.
