TLDR
- Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue dropped 8.4% year-on-year in July, reaching MOP20.26 billion (about US$2.51 billion).
- July’s revenue was up 9.4% from June, showing a rebound after a slower month.
- Year-to-date GGR for 2026 is still 4.4% higher than the same period last year.
- The FIFA World Cup, held in North America through mid-July, appears to have pulled some spending away from Macau casinos earlier in the summer.
- Two typhoons, Maysak and Noul, disrupted flights and ferry services in July but did not stop the monthly recovery.
Macau’s casino industry saw its gross gaming revenue fall 8.4% compared to last July. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported the figure at MOP20.26 billion, which converts to roughly US$2.51 billion.
Despite the yearly drop, the number was an improvement over June. That month’s revenue came in at MOP18.52 billion, meaning July rose 9.4% on a month-to-month basis.
The gains helped push Macau’s total revenue for the year so far to MOP147.16 billion through July 31. That total sits 4.4% above where the market was at this point in 2025.
World Cup May Have Slowed Spending
Analysts had already flagged June as a weaker month for Macau casinos. Much of that weakness was tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which ran in North America from June 11 to July 19.
The tournament appears to have drawn attention and spending away from Macau’s gaming floors during that stretch. Once the event wound down, some of that spending seems to have returned.
Banking company Citi published a report showing that average daily gross gaming revenue in Macau rose 9% in the second full week of July compared to the first week. Citi linked the jump to fewer distractions once World Cup interest faded.
MGM Resorts International’s chief executive, Bill Hornbuckle, spoke about the same trend during his company’s second quarter earnings call. He said demand for Macau gaming started picking up even before the World Cup Final took place on July 19.
Taken together, the numbers and comments suggest the tournament’s effect on Macau spending was temporary. The dip eased as July went on.
Storms Added Travel Disruptions
July also brought weather problems to the region. Two typhoons, named Maysak and Noul, passed through during the month.
Both storms were relatively mild by Macau’s standards. The city only issued a No. 3 storm signal for each, which is below the No. 8 level that forces public transport to shut down.
Still, Typhoon Noul caused flight delays at Macau International Airport. It also disrupted travel between Macau and Hong Kong, which is the city’s second largest source of visitors.
Some ferry routes from Guangdong province on the Chinese mainland were also suspended because of the storm. Guangdong is another key source of tourists for Macau’s casinos.
These travel issues created extra short-term challenges for cross-border visitor numbers in late July. Even so, the monthly GGR total still came in higher than June’s figure.
Macau’s casino sector now moves into the second half of 2026 with year-to-date revenue running ahead of last year’s pace. The mix of World Cup related softness and storm disruptions shows how outside events can still shift monthly numbers.
Regulator data and analyst notes both point to a market that reacts to global sporting events and seasonal weather. The same data shows the market has been able to bounce back once those short-term factors pass.
For now, July’s rebound from June gives Macau’s gaming industry a steadier footing heading into August.
