written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
21 Dec 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
The Chief Executive of Macau has announced that the city’s gaming gross revenue for 2023 is expected to reach or exceed 180 billion patacas (approximately $2.05 trillion). This figure is about 50 billion patacas (around $568.7 billion) higher than the government’s previous projections.
The official made this assessment during a media briefing following the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Special Administrative Region. He noted that, taking November's results into account, the gross gaming revenue had already reached 160 billion patacas (about $1.82 trillion). According to official data from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), this figure is even higher. For the first 11 months of the year, the total gross gaming revenue stood at 164.49 billion patacas (approximately $1.87 trillion), reflecting an annual growth of 324.9%.
The Chief Executive also stated that Macau is still working to attract more international visitors. Currently, 65% of tourists continue to arrive from mainland China. The official described the number of arrivals from Southeast and Northeast Asia as "satisfactory." However, the influx of tourists from Europe and the Americas remains below 10% of total visits.
On January 1, 2023, the government signed new ten-year contracts with local casino operators. These agreements include provisions for the gaming industry to actively participate in attracting more foreign visitors and revitalizing several urban areas. The government aims to return to the tourist influx levels recorded in 2019, which saw nearly 40 million visitors.
Discussing Macau's overall economy, the senior official noted that it has recovered to 70% of the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. The Chief Executive expressed hope that a full recovery to 100% will be achieved by 2024.
In a related note, a San Francisco airport employee won $20 million during their lunch break.
