Macau casinos post US$686M GGR in first five days of October
Macau’s casinos kicked off Golden Week 2025 with impressive results, overcoming disruptions from Typhoon Matmo to post its highest early-October gross gaming revenue (GGR) in more than half a decade.
The city’s resorts and gaming floors were bustling as tourists filled hotels, crowded ferry terminals and the skyline gleamed brightly. JP Morgan reports that during the first five days of Golden Week, Macau generated MOP 5.5 billion (US$686 million) in GGR, averaging MOP 1.1 billion per day underscoring its position as a leading global gambling destination.
Record Visitor Turnout
The holiday period saw a surge in arrivals, with more than 790,000 tourists entering Macau from October 1–5. On October 4 alone, visitor numbers peaked at 191,176 before Typhoon Matmo caused cancellations and ferry delays the following day, reducing arrivals to 113,051. Despite the storm, analysts described the performance as Macau’s “best Golden Week in over five years.”
Year-on-year growth appeared modest at 3%, but this reflects the already strong figures from 2024, which had set a high baseline.
Extended Holiday Adds Momentum
This year, Golden Week spans eight days, one more than in 2024, allowing travel demand to spread beyond the traditional mid-week peak. Analysts predict that following the storm, daily GGR could average MOP 750 million during the latter half of the holiday, representing mid-to-high teen growth compared to last year.
Although a post-peak dip of around 30% is expected, this is smaller than the typical 40% decline seen in previous years, signaling steady recovery for Macau’s gaming sector.
October 2025 Could Hit Six-Year Highs
JP Morgan maintains its projection of total monthly GGR reaching MOP 23 billion, an 11–13% increase year-on-year, the strongest October performance since 2019. Analysts anticipate sustained double-digit growth in Macau’s casino revenues through early 2026, driven by mainland Chinese visitors and expanded non-gaming entertainment options at resorts.
Macau’s Recovery Shows Resilience
Golden Week demonstrates how Macau’s gaming market has rebounded from pandemic-era struggles. Despite travel disruptions and global economic uncertainty, tourists returned in large numbers, reinvigorating casino floors.
Operators remain focused on the remainder of Golden Week, with the potential for October 2025 to mark a six-year high in monthly revenues, a strong signal that Macau’s gaming industry is regaining its pre-pandemic momentum.
