Macau casino shuttle bus passenger volume rose in 2024
The figure was still down by 16.1 per cent against 2019 levels.
Macau.- The Transport Bureau has reported that the number of passengers using casino shuttle buses reached nearly 52.98 million in 2024. That’s a rise of 47.3 per cent in year-on-year terms but remains down 16.1 per cent compared to 2019 levels, before the Covid-19 pandemic (63.18 million).
In 2024, Macau’s six casino operators offered 65 routes with 376 buses, an increase from 59 routes and 281 buses in 2023 and 57 routes and 426 buses in 2019. The number of trips in 2024 grew by 38.1 per cent year-on-year to just under 3.1 million. In 2019, the number of trips was over 3.3 million.
The data counts each one-way journey. Shuttles run from the Border Gate with Zhuhai, the Taipa Ferry Terminal, the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, providing services to casinos downtown or in Cotai. There are also shuttles connecting casinos on the Macau peninsula with those in Cotai.
Macau gaming tax revenue up 35%
The Financial Services Bureau has reported that Macau collected MOP88.13bn (US$11.0bn) in taxes from casino operations in 2024. The figure was up 35 per cent in year-on-year terms and surpassed the government’s forecast of MOP83.61bn by 5.4 per cent.
Under the 10-year concessions that came into effect on January 1, 2023, casinos pay 40 per cent on gross gaming revenue (GGR). Macau’s GGR for 2024 was MOP226.78bn (US$28.39bn), up 23.8 per cent year-on-year but down 22.45 per cent compared to 2019 (MOP292.45bn). Tax revenue figures cannot be directly compared because there is usually a delay between when GGR is documented and when the government recognises the tax as being paid.
The 2025 budget plan, which the Legislative Assembly approved on Monday (December 16), estimates that Macau’s casino GGR will reach MOP240bn (US$29.7bn) this year. Gaming taxes are expected to reach MOP93.12bn (US$11.6bn).
