written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
18 Dec 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
A December 2023 survey by Citi Research has revealed a notable increase in the number of high-stakes players in Macau. Compared to November, the number of "whales"—players who wager HK$100,000 (approximately 1.16 million rubles) or more—rose by about 11%. The survey indicated that 20 high rollers participated in Macau's casinos in December, up from 18 in November.
Analysts George Choi and Ryan Chung noted, "Players appear to be much less concerned than investors about the current state of the [Chinese] economy and the recent surge in respiratory illnesses in China. They continue to exhibit resilient spending behavior in the luxury sector."
The largest bet recorded by Citi Research in December was HK$610,000 (over 7 million rubles), placed by a visitor at the Galaxy Macau casino resort. Additionally, four other high rollers made bets ranging from HK$150,000 to HK$210,000 (approximately 1.74 million to 2.4 million rubles). The analysts also reported several players in Macau with chip stacks exceeding HK$1 million (11.6 million rubles).
According to the survey, the average minimum bet in Macau in December was HK$2,064 (23,899 rubles), marking a 12% increase compared to December 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surveys conducted by Citi Research since January 2023, following the lifting of travel restrictions in China, have shown an increase in average bets in Macau's premium mass market. Compared to similar months in 2019, the growth has ranged from 22% to 94%. Meanwhile, data from the city's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau confirms that the structure of the local gambling market has also changed since 2019.
Notably, in Australia, companies such as Aristocrat, eBet, IGT, and L&W are set to trial cashless gaming.
