Macau Casino GGR Sinks 12.1% in June 2026 Amid World Cup

Macau's casino industry posted a sharp decline in June as gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell 12.1% year-on-year. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) reported monthly takings of MOP18.52 billion (US$2.29 billion), an 18.1% drop from May. That result marked Macau's weakest month of the year and its first annual decline in 2026. Analysts point to the expanded FIFA World Cup as the main culprit, saying the tournament has diverted gambling budgets from casino floors toward sports betting.

FIFA World Cup Diverts Bettors From Casino Floors

Industry watchers expected softer numbers for June and July because of the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. Several research firms believe this year's tournament could hit Macau harder than past soccer events, given its larger scale. The 2026 edition features 48 teams and 104 matches, well above the 64 matches of previous World Cups and more than double the 51 played at Euro 2024.

Analysts say bettors have shifted more of their spending toward sports wagering, often through China's legal sports lottery, since most other gambling forms remain banned on the mainland.

China's men's team did not qualify for the tournament. With the competition now in its knockout rounds and weeks of matches still ahead, the trend could keep weighing on Macau's results into July.

Macau Visitors Rise, but Q2 GGR Growth Stalls

Despite the weaker GGR, Macau still drew solid visitor numbers during June. The Dragon Boat Festival holiday, held from June 19 to 21, brought in more than 380,000 arrivals, according to police figures. Overlapping holidays in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China helped drive cross-border travel during that stretch. Even so, the tourism boost wasn't enough to counter the broader drop in gaming activity. For the second quarter overall, casinos generated just under MOP61.03 billion in GGR, a marginal 0.1% decline from the same period last year.

Grant Feng, senior economist at Vanguard, said China is navigating a "two-speed economy" in which strong high-tech manufacturing is offset by softer domestic consumer demand, adding pressure on discretionary spending like gambling.

H1 GGR Up 6.8%, Rebound Expected After World Cup

Despite June's setback, Macau's first-half performance remains stronger than a year ago. From January through June, the city generated MOP126.90 billion (US$15.72 billion) in GGR, up 6.8% from the same period in 2025. That total, however, still sits 15.1% below the MOP149.50 billion recorded in the first half of 2019. Analysts expect a rebound once the World Cup wraps up, citing a packed entertainment lineup that includes performances by Babymonster, TWS and ENHYPEN. The NBA China Games, featuring the Rockets and Mavericks, are also on the calendar later this year.