VIP baccarat revenue generated by Macau casinos in the second quarter of 2024 reached 13.3 billion patacas, which represents 23.6 percent of gross gaming revenue, and a slight decrease from 25 percent in the previous quarter. The data published by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Directorate (DICJ) shows that this amount marks a decrease of 7.4 percent in relation to the revenue generated at VIP baccarat tables in the first quarter, although there was an increase of 9.5 percent in relation to the same period last year.
In the first half of 2024, Macau casinos generated 113.7 billion patacas in gaming revenue, of which only 24.3 percent was generated by VIP baccarat tables. In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic and the crackdown on junket operations, VIP tables generated almost half of the 149.5 billion patacas recorded by local casinos in the first half of the year.
The Macau government has maintained the maximum limit of 50 licensed VIP gaming promoters for the year 2025, and has also decided to maintain the current maximum number of trips allowed in this market. However, less than half of the permitted quota is currently being used, as the industry has seen an 85 percent decline in the last decade. As of June 11, there were only 22 licensed junket operators in the city.
Meanwhile, revenue from mass baccarat reached 34.6 billion patacas in the second quarter of this year, a slight decrease on the previous quarter. Still, 61.3 percent of the casinos’ total results for that period and basically the same percentage raised in the first half of 2024. However, the total amounts generated by casinos between January and June 2023 still only represent 75 percent of the total generated in the same period in 2019, before the pandemic crisis.
Slot machines contributed around 3.2 billion patacas to the second quarter total, with almost no change compared to the previous quarter. The number of gaming tables and slot machines remained stable between April and June: 6,000 and 12,000 respectively.
As for other types of gambling, Macau Slot Co. Ltd., the SAR’s sports betting concessionaire, seems to have received a boost from the European Championship and Copa America matches. Soccer betting increased by 25.2 percent compared to the previous quarter, to around 97 million patacas, while overall betting on basketball decreased. The sports betting operator generated 305 million patacas in the first half of the year, an increase of 2.3 percent on the same period last year.
No more horse racing bets were recorded during this period, as the Macau Jockey Club closed its operations in April this year. Its last full quarter in operation had generated just 9 million patacas in revenue. Even so, the horse racing track managed to generate more than the total made by the Chinese lottery: around 7 million.
