FIFA World Cup sends Macau premium mass bets to post-pandemic low, Citi says
Citigroup’s latest survey found premium mass wagering in Macau to be down 38 per cent year-on-year.
Macau.- With FIFA World Cup 2026 underway, Citigroup analysts estimate that Macau’s premium mass gaming segment is seeing its weakest performance since the city’s post-pandemic reopening. Citi’s latest survey recorded premium mass wagers of approximately HK$9.8m (US$1.3m), down 38 per cent year-on-year. The decline was driven by both lower player volume and softer betting.
Citigroup analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau said the World Cup appears to be redirecting part of players’ gambling budgets from Macau casinos to sports betting. This year’s tournament is expected to have a greater impact on gaming expenditure than previous editions due to the expanded format, which features 48 teams and 104 matches.
The June survey recorded 448 premium mass players, down 29 per cent from June 2025, and 24 whales compared with 35 in June 2025. The average wager per player declined by 13 per cent year-on-year to HK$21,775 (US$2,778).
Earlier this month, Citi estimated that the city’s average daily gross gaming revenue run rate had fallen by around 20 per cent from May levels following the start of the World Cup on June 11.
