• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Macau GGR plummets on tougher travel rules: brokerage

Apr 07, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau GGR plummets on tougher travel rules: brokerage

Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd has suggested Macau casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) has “plummeted” since mid-March due to a ramping up of travel restrictions by respectively the Macau government, mainland China and other jurisdictions, in an effort to control locally the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Macau continues to suffer from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,” stated analysts Vitaly Umansky, Eunice Lee and Kelsey Zhu in a Monday memo.

The month-to-date average daily rate of GGR in the Macau market “is -87 percent compared to April 2019,” they wrote. The trio indicated that average daily GGR in April 2019 had been MOP786 million (about US$98 million).

The institution said its “channel checks” indicated that Macau’s GGR for April 1 to 5 was about MOP500 million with a month-to-date average daily rate of about MOP100 million.

The brokerage noted: “We estimate VIP has been stronger than mass, driven by a small number of players, with normal hold in VIP and significant volatility.”

JP Morgan Securities (Asia-Pacific) Ltd said in a note last week it was possible Macau might book close to “zero” GGR in April. March GGR had shrunk by nearly 80 percent according to government data.

Sanford Bernstein noted in its Monday memo that a “pickup in coronavirus cases leading to new travel restrictions in mid-March,” had “plummeted GGR and visitation” to Macau.

Data from the city’s Public Security Police, the body responsible for monitoring border traffic, indicated that on some days last week fewer than 300 visitors entered the city.

Macau had an initial 10 cases of Covid-19, the infection associated with the coronavirus, reported in late January and early February. All the patients recovered after hospital treatment. Subsequently since mid-March, there have been a further 34 cases – all involving infection linked to patients with recent travel history and coming from outside Macau.

Sanford Bernstein estimated April GGR might shrink by “95 percent-plus”, with the actual number “largely dependent on status of travel restrictions”. Such GGR “could be down closer to 100 percent if travel restrictions stay firmly in place,” added the institution.

“The gaming operators and other Macau-based contacts we have spoken with do not see any clarity on timing of recovery” in relation to the “visa situation improvement,” added Sanford Bernstein. That was understood to be a reference to exit permits for either independent travellers or tour groups from mainland China to visit Macau.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt
    Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to...

    Apr 01, 2023  

  • Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s
    Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid...

    Mar 31, 2023  

More news
  • Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter
    Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3...

    Mar 31, 2023  

  • Ainsworth updates deal for distribution of online RMG
    Ainsworth updates deal for distribution...

    Mar 31, 2023  


Latest News

Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt

Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt

Apr 01, 2023  

Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) was up 246.9 percent year-on-year in March, to just under MOP12.74 billion (US$1.58 billion). The March tally was up 23.4 percent month-on-month,...
Read More
Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter

Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter

Mar 31, 2023  

Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s

Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s

Mar 31, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Efforts have pivoted to the construction of the hotel tower, with plans to launch a soft opening before the end of 2024 and a grand opening in 2025”

Casino investor LET Group

On the development of a casino hotel in Manila, the Philippine capital



Most Popular

  • Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of EasterSome Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter March 31, 2023
  • Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’sMacau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s March 31, 2023
  • Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govtMacau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt April 1, 2023
  • LET Group narrows year loss, Manila site open end 2024LET Group narrows year loss, Manila site open end 2024 March 31, 2023
  • Japan govt delays IR decision due to local elections: reportJapan govt delays IR decision due to local elections: report March 30, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us