Despite proving to be a good month in terms of gaming revenue and overall visitation, the hospitality sector in Macau in October failed to see its expectations met, as most visitors didn’t choose to stay overnight.

Macau’s gross gaming revenue in October reached its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic, topping out at MOP19.5 billion ($2.42 billion), a 400.2 percent yearly increase and over MOP2 billion ($248 million) higher than the previous 2023 high of MOP17.21 billion ($2.13 billion) seen in August.

Making money moves. That's what Macau is doing, with October GGR set to encroach on 2019 levels as the city roars back. Reclaiming its gaming throne, analysts are predicting over $2 billion in gaming revenue for the month, largely boosted by Golden Week.

Macau hotels’ average occupancy rate in October improved by some 4.2 percentage points when compared to the previous month, reaching 41.8 percent, despite registering a 3-percentage point fall year-on-year.

Macau October GGR registered a positive monthly uptick of 31%, to $482.6 million, with some analysts predicting a solid Q4 result, despite the recent small outbreak in the territory.

Macau visitor arrivals rose almost 30 percent in October from the prior month, but were down almost 82 percent on the prior year, according to figures from the Statistics and Census Service. There was growth of 7.0 percentage points in the proportion of overnight visitors to 53 percent. 

Macau's October gross gambling revenue fell 72.5 percent to MOP7.2 billion ($899 million), according to figures from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). The latest figures bring the year to date decline to 84 percent.

Macau's gross gambling revenue for October is expected to be down 73 percent with channel checks showing GGR up until October 26 at MOP5.95 billion (US$747 million), according to Bernstein research. 

Macau’s hotel occupancy rates in October increased by 41.1 percentage points year-on-year to 82.8 percent, with the rates for 5-star (85.6 percent) and 2-star hotels (83.1 percent), according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Macau registered 3.1 percent fewer gaming and junket workers during the August to October period, according to the most recent survey by the group’s statistical body.