Macau’s Gambling Recovery
Paul M |Macau’s recovery gains momentum as Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) increases and travel restrictions decrease.
The Chinese New Year holiday didn’t deliver the anticipated visitor numbers due to COVID-19 concerns and travel restrictions, but the situation began to improve towards the end of the festivities.
Macau’s Gambling History and Status as a Major Gaming Centre
Macau is known as the “Las Vegas of the East” and is one of the world’s largest gambling centres. The city has a long history of gambling, with games such as fan-tan, blackjack, and baccarat being played for centuries.
Today, Macau is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, and it has become a major destination for high-stakes gamblers from around the world.
The city’s casinos generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, making it one of the wealthiest places in Asia. Despite recent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Macau remains a popular destination for those seeking the excitement and glamour of the casino lifestyle.
GGR Picks Up During The Last Days of the CNY Holiday Period
Analysts from JP Morgan and Sanford C. Bernstein reported that GGR picked up during the last days of the CNY holiday period. They estimated that GGR for the first 21 days of February was $725 million or $34.5 million per day, which is a substantial increase from the previous months. The third week of February saw a daily run rate of $58.25 million, more than twice the first two weeks of the month.
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Optimism For a Stronger Recovery
Although full-month GGR for February is still expected to be lower than pre-COVID-19 levels, the situation is likely to improve significantly in the second half of 2021. Macau has lifted its quarantine requirements for all of China, and all mainlanders are now free to travel to the city as long as they can provide a negative COVID-19 test result and meet certain other requirements.
China’s Success in Controlling COVID-19 and the Positive Impact on Macau’s Tourism and Gaming Industries
China appears to have the coronavirus under control, and Macau is confident that the risk of another outbreak is relatively low. This positive development will likely encourage more visitors to come to the city and boost the local economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism and the gaming industry.
Macau’s struggle But Hope for a Surge in Economic Activity.
Macau’s recovery is welcome news for the city, which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s economy contracted by 56.3% in the second quarter of 2020, and it has struggled to recover since then due to travel restrictions and other challenges posed by the pandemic.
However, the latest developments suggest that Macau’s recovery is gaining momentum, and there is hope that the city will be able to return to its pre-COVID-19 levels of economic activity in the near future. As always, the situation is subject to change, but for now, the outlook is positive, and the city’s residents and businesses can look forward to better days ahead.