Good morning. Competition has a price, and in Macau it is taking a record share of casino win. CBRE says commissions, comps and other player incentives reached 20.9 percent of GGR in the second quarter, even though absolute spending eased, with elevated reinvestment continuing to squeeze margins. South Korea’s GKL, meanwhile, saw August casino sales fall 11.3 percent despite a higher drop, highlighting that more money wagered does not always mean more revenue. In India, tax investigators traced $7.4 billion in illegal betting transactions and want payment records to reveal which websites direct the funds.
What you need to know
- Macau casino promotional spend hit a record 20.9 percent of gross gaming revenue in 2Q26 due to fierce competition for premium players.
- GKL’s August casino sales fell 11.3 percent to $22.9 million despite higher drop and double-digit growth in individual customers.
- India’s tax intelligence agency traced $7.4 billion in illegal betting transactions and called for tighter payment tracking.
On the radar
- Kangwon Land CEO outlines faster resort transformation, regulatory reform.
- EGT secures UAE license to supply land-based gaming products.
- Star Sydney could regain conditional casino license by end-September: NICC.
AGB Intelligence
MACAU
Macau casino reinvestment hits a record 20.9% share of 2Q GGR
Driven by an intense battle for premium gamblers, Macau operators saw their promotional spend hit a record 20.9 percent of gross gaming revenue in 2Q26. This record ratio highlights the elevated customer reinvestment required in today’s market, though unusually low VIP hold also skewed the percentage upward. CBRE anticipates these promotional costs will continue rising in absolute terms throughout the year. Consequently, casinos face ongoing margin constraints, compounded by a sluggish August where gaming yields failed to fully rebound after the FIFA World Cup disruptions.
Industry Updates
- Zitro Digital to showcase its omnichannel vision at SBC Summit Lisbon 2026.
- Sands China completes 11th Responsible Gaming Training Programme.
- TCSJOHNHUXLEY brings live gaming, automation and new tech to G2E 2026.
Written by
AGBrief Editorial
The AGBrief Editorial Team is a group of contributors living around the world that are connected to Asia Gaming Brief. They are active members in pursuing the sources of our news, making them reliable and accurate for our readers.
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