{"id":777048651,"date":"2026-10-15T08:16:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T11:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/?p=777048651"},"modified":"2026-10-15T08:25:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T11:25:23","slug":"macau-gdp-projected-to-shrink-by-2-as-casino-revenue-weakens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/macau-gdp-projected-to-shrink-by-2-as-casino-revenue-weakens","title":{"rendered":"Macau GDP projected to shrink by 2% as casino revenue weakens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The outlook follows year-on-year declines in gross gaming revenue at Macau casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Macau.- The Macau Economic Association (MEA)<\/strong> has projected a 2 per cent year-on-year decline in Macau\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2026, citing weaker economic performance in the casino sector. In its latest economic outlook, published on October 15, the association estimated third-quarter GDP at MOP102.9bn (US$12.8bn), with a projected contraction ranging from 0.8 per cent to 2.7 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macau\u2019s gross gaming revenue (GGR) was down by 1.2 per cent year-on-year in both August and September at MOP21.9bn (US$2.72bn) and MOP18bn (US$2.24bn), respectively. Average daily gaming revenue declined month-on-month from MOP706m (US$87.8m) in August to MOP602m (US$74.9m) in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although overall arrivals increased by 6.1 per cent year-on-year in August, same-day visitors rose by 11.7 per cent, while overnight arrivals fell by 2.4 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other economic indicators remained relatively stable during the period. The MEA\u2019s Economic Sentiment Index<\/strong> stood at 6.3 points in August and 6.1 points in September, while spending at restaurants and retail outlets remained steady and unemployment low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the projected third-quarter contraction, the association estimates that Macau\u2019s economy saw growth of 1.5 per cent to 2.1 per cent year-on-year over the first nine months of 2026. Cumulative GDP is forecast at between MOP311.8bn (US$38.75bn) and MOP313.8bn (US$39.02bn), following growth of 7.2 per cent in the first quarter and 0.3 per cent in the second. The association identified international visitor markets, improved air connectivity and closer tourism cooperation between Macau and Hong Kong as potential sources of support for economic activity.<\/p>\n\n\n