For June 2022, Macau reported a 62% decline in gambling revenue
The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) in Macau has just disclosed its monthly numbers on gaming income, revealing a 62% decrease in comparison to the previous year's figures. The total amount of gross gaming revenue (GGR) for June 2021 was $6.53 billion (US$800.6 million), although it has since decreased to $2.47 billion for June 2022.
This drop is part of a bigger pattern of declining gaming income for the area, which has seen a decline of 68% in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for both April and May of 2022. One possible explanation for this is that people in mainland China are taking fewer trips that take them across provincial and national borders.
Macau is now experiencing a revival of Covid-19 at the time when the most recent numbers for June were collected. Local establishments, including restaurants, theaters, hair salons, and nightclubs, have been closed in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading further. In addition, testing has been conducted throughout the whole city. These measures were taken by the government and the Health Bureau.
Casinos have been given permission to remain operational but must comply with severe COVID-prevention procedures in order to do so. At the time of check-in, each visitor is required to present proof of having passed a negative nucleic acid test and have their core temperature taken. Before beginning each shift, employees are required to submit negative test results, and officials strongly advise that they additionally wear protective KN95 masks whenever they are in the company of clients.
In addition, on June 26th, the DICJ issued a recommendation that the casinos in the city reduce the number of operating staff in order to assist in reducing the transmission of disease. The DICJ stated that all "gaming companies must strictly implement all epidemic prevention guidelines issued by the Health Bureau."
These limits are likely to blame for the decrease in GGR for the month of June 2022, and it appears that the pressure on casinos will only increase going forward. On July 1st, the city reported 88 additional cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 572. In addition to this, the DICJ has mandated that casinos in Macau cut the number of employees on duty by ninety percent.
