HONG KONG – Protests in Hong Kong may be starting to deter gamblers from casinos in Macau, with revenue in the world’s biggest gaming hub unexpectedly falling in July.
Gross gaming revenue for Macau casino operators was 24.5 billion patacas last month, down 3.5 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) yesterday. That missed analysts estimates for a 2 percent year-on-year increase, and cuts short a two-month rebound.
Macau casinos have been holding up recently despite headwinds including trade war uncertainties and a weaker mainland Chinese economy, with tourist arrivals at record levels helping to boost mass-market betting. But the high-roller segment has languished, and recent headlines about unrest in Hong Kong and a possible crackdown by the central government on junket operators may be scaring away more VIPs.
