Prosecutors in Taiwan have filed charges against 10 people connected to a money laundering case that used casinos in Macau to move more than $1.03 billion in dirty money.
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Macau gaming revenue beats market expectations with 24% rise
Data from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) shows that Macau’s gaming revenue has beaten expectations and increased by 24% year-on-year in January 2026.
Gross gaming revenue reached $2.8 billion during January 2026, which exceeded the forecasts of an 18.5% increase, as well as marked a recovery for 91% of pre-COVID-19 levels. This is the result of casinos relying on concerts and branded entertainment to attract players.
Macau’s casinos turned to marketing based on entertainment to increase demand and used free concert tickets and themed collaborations to appeal to high-spending premium customers. The efforts were effective, as higher-end player spending increased by 25% compared to 2025.
Additionally, visitor arrival numbers have increased by 16%, with December 2025 recording 3.58 million visitors.
Although the marketing efforts helped strengthen Macau’s gambling revenue, the rising costs have hit casino margins. Sands China reported its lowest profit margin since the pandemic in 2025’s fourth quarter, as the decline is connected to higher operating costs while trying to compete for customers.
Macau casino stocks have also seen negative developments, with the Bloomberg Intelligence Macau casino operators index falling by 6.1% in January 2026.
Macau is experiencing a rise in problem gambling and a record number of self-exclusions from casinos after authorities changed the focus from the VIP model to general public...
