World Cup Distraction Cannibalizes Macau Casino Floors as June Revenue Drops 12%

Macau casino revenue dropped 12.1% year-over-year in June to MOP18.5 billion ($2.29 billion), as the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup diverted high-rolling gamblers away from the baccarat tables.

Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported today (July 1) that the six casino operators saw their gaming win plummet in June. The kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was blamed for many gamblers taking their wagers to bookmakers instead of Macau.

June marked the first month in 2026 that saw a year-over-year gross gaming revenue (GGR) decline. The $2.29 billion tally was the year’s lowest monthly result, and marked an 18.1% drop from May, when casino win totaled $2.8 billion.

Through June, year-to-date GGR in Macau totaled $15.7 billion, which remained 6.8% higher despite last month’s difficulties.

Sports Betting Surges

Gaming analysts say the World Cup has diverted gamblers’ attention and their discretionary spending, chiefly among the mass and premium mass markets, from Macau to sportsbooks. While most forms of gambling are illegal on the mainland, China allows the public to bet on international soccer matches through the China Sports Lottery.

While basketball and ping pong are the most popular sports in China, soccer also commands legions of fans. The Chinese Super League regularly draws large audiences.

The Chinese men’s national football team did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The team has only qualified for the tournament once, in 2002.

Analysts predicted that the impact of the World Cup on Macau would be greater in 2026, as the tournament expanded to a 48-team format, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104.

With the World Cup currently in its knockout stages and more than two weeks remaining until a champion is crowned, the tournament poses a lingering headwind that could trigger a similar revenue slump for Macau in July.

Chinese Economy

Grant Feng, a senior economist at Vanguard, says China is currently amid a “two-speed economy” where its thriving high-tech manufacturing sector is being depressed by a decline in domestic consumer demand.  

“Solid near-term growth reduces the urgency for near‑term stimulus. However, warning signs from the domestic economy are likely to keep policymakers on alert and may accelerate the rollout of policy support. The People’s Bank of China will likely remain on hold this year, with a preference for structural tools for targeted sectors rather than a broad-based policy rate cut,” Feng wrote.

In March 2025, Beijing rolled out a $1.4 trillion stimulus package to help the economy that was greatly impacted by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on exported goods from China.