(AsiaGameHub) – Macau has retained its strong appeal despite global headwinds triggered by persistent tensions across the Middle East.
The city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau announced that May’s gross gaming revenue reached MOP 22.6 billion, marking a 6.7% rise compared to the corresponding month in 2025.
In the meantime, cumulative gross gaming revenue for the year to date now stands at MOP 108.4 billion, representing a 10.9% year-on-year increase from the same period last year.
The positive results were boosted by mainland China’s Labor Day holiday, which ran from 1 May to 5 May, and May also becomes the third month in 2026 so far where GGR has surpassed MOP 22 billion.
Alongside robust spending levels, Macau has also recorded a rise in visitor numbers, with the Statistics and Census Service registering an 11.3% year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals for April.
Macau’s positive growth momentum stands in contrast to its Southeast Asian neighbor the Philippines, after the country’s gaming regulator reported that its first-quarter results were impacted by geopolitical tensions.
Alejandro Tengco, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), noted “softer discretionary spending” among players as first-quarter revenue fell 15.87% year-on-year to P104.12 billion (£1.26 billion).
Speaking at the Manila After Dark event in April, Tengco warned that even well-established markets will feel the knock-on effects of the oil crisis sparked by conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.
He stated: “These are challenging times for all parties. Gaming jurisdictions across the globe are feeling the impact of the oil crisis, and even more developed markets such as Singapore, Macau, and the United States are not immune.”
Acknowledging the potential difficulties facing travelers, Macau’s Government Tourism Office is currently evaluating a proposal to cover transport costs for people traveling from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Macau.
Macau already has a similar scheme in place for visitors arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport. However, officials noted in April that this incentive is under consideration because flights from the Middle East and Europe to Hong Kong have decreased as a result of the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Speaking at the Macau International Travel Industry Expo, Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip said: “The MSAR Government will continue to diversify its portfolio of tourism products, host major events, upgrade supporting infrastructure, and step up publicity and promotion efforts.”
The strong performance recorded in the first five months of the year extends the solid end to 2025 for Macau, which saw gaming revenue surge in the second half of last year.
The city posted full-year gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $30.8 billion, up 9.1% from 2024 figures and exceeding the government’s target of $29.9 billion.
Macau is optimistic that it can sustain this momentum throughout 2026, even as geopolitical tensions show no signs of easing. If this trend continues, it will cement the region’s return to strength, as the city’s performance keeps recovering to levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.
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