Macau Premium-Mass Wagers Fall 45% Year-On-Year
Citigroup has cut its September gross gaming revenue (GGR) forecast for Macau by 10% to MOP18 billion (US$2.24 billion), citing its latest table survey as one of its weakest in recent years.
Observed premium-mass wagers fell 45% year-on-year to HK$6.8 million (US$871,000), down from HK$12.3 million a year earlier.
Fewer High Rollers, Smaller Average Bets
The number of premium-mass players observed by Citi analysts declined 20% year-on-year to 401, while the average wager per player fell 31% to HK$16,958.
The combination of fewer players and smaller individual stakes drove the sharp fall in total observed wagering.
Citi's monthly table-survey data track premium-mass activity across Macau's casino floors and are closely watched by analysts as an early read on the city's monthly GGR trajectory, according to Macau Business.
Volatile Year For Macau's Premium-Mass Segment
Premium-mass wagering, including with online casinos, has swung sharply through 2026, with Citi recording a rebound to roughly HK$13 billion in July before easing again heading into September.
The segment remains a key swing factor for operators competing on gambling.com's casino news to secure high-value players in the Chinese special administrative region.
Volatile Year For Citi's Monthly Surveys
Citi's monthly premium-mass tracking has swung sharply through 2026.
The bank recorded wagering at a post-pandemic low of roughly HK$9.8 million during the FIFA World Cup in June, down 38% year-on-year, before a 33% month-on-month rebound to about HK$13 billion in July that was still 19% below the prior year, with the number of premium-mass players observed down 15% to 581.
Wagering then rose 7% year-on-year to roughly HK$14.3 million in August as fewer high-end players staked more per person, according to Macau Daily Times.
September's reading marks a fresh dip after that August recovery.
