Citigroup survey finds premium mass wagers in Macau remain flat
The average wager per player was down by 6.8 per cent to HK$18,139.
Macau.- Citigroup’s April survey of Macau casinos observed premium mass wagers of HK$11.1m (US$1.43m), flat year-on-year. Some 611 players were observed, a rise of 8 per cent compared to last April. The average wager per player was down by 6.8 per cent to HK$18,139 (US$2.321).
The survey observed 19 whales (players with bets of HK$100,000 per hand or more), up from 18 last April. The “Player of the Month” was spotted placing a bet of HK1m (US$128.000) at MGM Cotai Supreme Room. The second-highest wager was seen at Galaxy Macau’s Horizon Room placing a bet of HK$500,000 (US$64.000).
Analysts observed that eight players wagered HK$4.1m (US$524.800) or HK$217,000 (US$27.776) per client, up 2 per cent year-on-year. They noted that Macau operators with US-based parent companies accounted for approximately 60 per cent of the total premium mass wagers in this month’s survey. They suggest this means that US president Donald Trump’s tariff announcements have not affected player preferences on an individual operator basis.
See also: Macau GDP forecast revised amid US tariffs
Macau satellite casinos concerned about lack of negotiations
Satellite casinos in Macau are concerned that with fewer than nine months until the expected transition to a management company arrangement, discussions about their future have yet to begin. According to the Macao Daily News, some satellite casino operators want the government to use the relocation of gaming tables as a negotiating tool, suggesting that the government should not give all gaming tables back to the main casino operators if satellite casinos close.
Before the revision of Macau’s gaming law in 2022, there were 18 satellite casinos in the city. Currently, there are 11 with around 450 gaming tables. Nine of these operate under SJM’s gaming licence.
