Macau, China, April 16, 2026 (Lusa) – Revenues from high rollers, known as the VIP gambling segment in Macau, rose 35% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, authorities announced on Thursday.
The so-called VIP baccarat reached revenues of 19.8 billion patacas (€2.06 billion) between January and March, according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) of the Chinese semi-autonomous region.
High-stakes revenues grew by 24.1% in 2025, although they remain far below the historical peaks reached before the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, baccarat in this segment accounted for 46.2% of total casino revenues, but fell to a 29.7% share in the first quarter of 2025.
The arrest of the leader of the world’s largest VIP gambling promoter in November 2021 impacted high-stakes gambling. In January 2023, a court sentenced former Suncity CEO Alvin Chau Cheok Wa to 18 years in prison, which led to a drop in the number of gambling promoter licences issued in Macau from 85 to 18.
DICJ data shows that the number of licences has been recovering, reaching 31 by the end of March, but it remains below the government's maximum limit of 50.
Revenues from Macau's most popular game, mass-market baccarat, increased by 6.6% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 36.6 billion patacas (€3.85 billion). Mass baccarat accounted for 55.5% of total casino revenues between January and March, remaining the most sought-after game for Chinese gamblers.
Slot machine revenues increased by 21.7% year over year, reaching 3.98 billion patacas (€419.4 million).
Macau is the world's gambling capital and the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. Six concessionaires, MGM, Galaxy, Venetian, Melco, Wynn, and SJM, operate in the territory with contracts running until 2034.
During the first three months of the year, Macau's casinos recorded total revenues of 65.9 billion patacas (€7.45 billion), a 14.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In the 2026 budget approved in November, the Macau government predicted that gross casino revenues would increase by 3.5% to 236 billion patacas (€26.7 billion).
The Economic Association of Macau said on Wednesday that the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) likely grew by 10% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year. "The macroeconomy had a strong start," the association said, driven by a "robust performance" in the tourism, leisure, and finance industries, including the "upward momentum" of the casinos.
VQ/RYOL // ADB.
Lusa
