Gambling revenue in Macau rose 21.4 per cent in September year-on-year on robust spending by affluent gamblers despite a typhoon that hit southern China at the end of the month and disrupted travel.
September’s revenue came in at 28.96bn patacas ($3.63bn) according to government data released last week. The figure was at the low end of analyst estimates that forecasted September growth in the world’s biggest gambling market to rise 22 to 25 per cent.
On September 22 a severe typhoon hit close to Macau and Hong Kong, disrupting air, road and rail links in the surrounding areas and resulting in a lower influx of visitors into the casino hub.
October was expected to be a bumper month for gambling revenues with analysts expecting a new monthly record due to the week-long national holiday at the start of the month. Hotels are nearly fully booked for the period.
The government is actively trying to increase the number of visitors to Macau from 28 million last year with the aim to transform the former Portuguese colony into an international tourism destination.
However, Macau residents and casino executives say the tiny territory still has acute challenges in facilitating large numbers of tourists. Long delays and rising costs for local infrastructure developments like a new ferry terminal and an elevated railway are ongoing and have no fixed timetable for opening. During periods of heavy rain, Macau’s downtown and outer areas are affected by floods and sometimes landslides.
