China has expanded the number of cities eligible for individual visa applications to Macau, a move that benefits local casinos
The eight cities included are provincial capitals and autonomous regions: Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, and Urumqi. This expansion of regions from which individuals can apply for the IVS visa to Macau marks the second such update in less than three months.
Vitaly Umansky, an analyst at Seaport Research Partners, provided insights on how these changes in visa policy might affect Macau's casino industry. He noted that, in the short term, the impact on visitor numbers and gross gaming revenue will be relatively modest. However, in the long run, this move is expected to be a significant factor in increasing visitor numbers.
The announcement of the expansion by the Chinese government has already had a positive effect on Macau casino operators listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. On the morning of May 13, shares of SJM Holdings rose by 5.2% to HK$3.05 (approximately $0.39), Wynn Macau increased by 5% to HK$8.39 (about $1.07), and MGM China saw a 3.4% rise to HK$15.08 (around $1.93).
Umansky added that the changes in visa policy clearly indicate the Chinese government's ongoing support for Macau and the absence of negative associations with the gaming industry. He also highlighted that the IVS expansion is likely to attract more mid- to high-end visitors, as they tend to travel primarily on individual rather than group visas.
Meanwhile, Wynn Macau reported a revenue of $1 billion for the first quarter of 2024.
Blog
Explore more interesting news
Amigo Gaming has announced a new partnership with Elantil, a company renowned for its flexible, modern, and operator-focused approach. As part of the agreement, the ...
The Brazilian Senate's Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) has approved a bill to gradually increase the gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax for casino operators from 12% ...
Pragmatic Play has announced a new partnership with Loterías Torito, aimed at strengthening the provider's position in the regulated Peruvian iGaming market. This agreement will ...
Lotte Tour Development Co. Ltd, the owner of the South Korean casino Jeju Dream Tower, has released its financial results for November 2025. During this ...
Genting Malaysia's revenues significantly exceeded forecasts for the third quarter of 2025. The group's total revenue rose by 22% year-on-year, reaching $813 million (63.6 billion ...
A user of the online casino DraftKings in Michigan has set a new record for the American gambling industry by winning the largest jackpot in ...
Content provider for online casinos, Amigo Gaming, is continuing its expansion in Latin America. The company has announced an extension of its strategic partnership with ...
The regulated sectors of online betting and land-based gambling have played a crucial role in the significant increase in Brazil's tax revenues in October and ...
Finland is steadily moving towards the licensing of its iGaming sector. Today, the country's authorities published two draft technical documents that will form part of ...
BGaming, a prominent game developer, has been honored with the prestigious SiGMA Central Europe Award for "Best Casino Game of 2025" for its viral hit, ...
The iGaming industry in Ontario set record results in October 2025, achieving its highest figures since the launch of the regulated market in 2022. According ...
Booming Gaming has announced a partnership with online casino operator Placard, marking the supplier's debut in Portugal's regulated iGaming market and strengthening its presence in ...
