According to a report from Citigroup, Macau’s premium mass wagers surged during the October Golden Week, shattering previous records.
According to the latest October table survey, ‘the amount of premium mass wagers we observed… is record-breaking.’ The number of premium mass players and high-rollers, often referred to as ‘whales’, also reached unprecedented levels. This year, premium mass table utilization hit approximately 52 percent, marking the highest utilization rate since the market reopened.
Data from earlier surveys consistently show that demand for premium mass gaming has remained resilient, even in the face of weaker trends in Chinese discretionary spending year-to-date. Analyst George Choi believes that recent policy measures announced by the Chinese government have further boosted players’ appetite for gaming.
The total premium mass wager in October 2024 rose to HK$27.2 million ($3.5 million), reflecting an 81 percent increase compared to October 2023 and an 18 percent rise from Chinese New Year 2024.
The number of premium mass players also set a record, amounting to 966—a substantial 90 percent increase year-on-year. Despite this significant rise in player count, the average wager per player saw only a modest decline of 5 percent, landing at HK$28,150 ($3,625), which remains the third-highest level recorded.
High-stakes players at record levels
In addition to overall growth in premium mass gaming, Citigroup‘s Whale Watch data reveals that the number of high-stakes players, or ‘whales,’ also reached a record high this month, increasing to 62—an 88 percent rise compared to October 2023 and a 51 percent increase since Chinese New Year 2024.
A ‘whale’ is defined as a player whose bet size ranges from HK$100,000 to HK$500,000 ($12,800 to $64,000) per hand or more.
Highlighting this trend, the ‘Player of the Month’ made an appearance at Galaxy Macau’s Horizon Room with an impressive HK$420,000 ($54,083) bet. This player was among 15 whales encountered at Galaxy Macau that day.
At the Chairman Club of Wynn Palace, five whales collectively wagered HK$1.1 million ($140,000) on a single hand, contributing to a total of 12 whales spotted at that venue.
Furthermore, at City of Dreams, nine whales were seen betting between HK$100,000 ($12,877) and HK$400,000 ($51,507), while five whales placed similar bets at the Sands Apex Room at Plaza.
Galaxy leads premium mass segment market share
In terms of market share, Galaxy ranks as the leader in the premium mass segment, holding a 29 percent share of the total wagers observed. The total wager at Galaxy Macau‘s Horizon Room was the highest among all major premium mass venues, reaching HK$4.3 million ($550,000).
This performance is attributed in part to the Andy Lau concerts held at the Galaxy Arena from October 3rd to 6th, which likely drew significant crowds to the property.
The brokerage notes that Wynn also demonstrated strong performance during Golden Week, reinforcing its status as a premium mass outperformer.
Meanwhile, according to observations by Citigroup, the recently reopened Londoner Grand Casino features 168 smart baccarat tables, with minimum bets ranging from HK$500 ($65) to HK$3,000 ($386), averaging HK$1,400 ($180). This represents a significant reduction compared to the previous Londoner casino, where minimum bets start at HK$2,000 ($258) and can go up to HK$10,000 ($1,288).
New side bet
Recently, the six major operators introduced a new side bet for baccarat, named Lucky 7/Super Lucky 7. The rules for this bet are straightforward, and according to Citigroup, ‘this new side bet pays as much as 100-to-1,’ suggesting it is poised to quickly gain popularity among players.
Analysts indicate that the house advantage for these new side bets is positioned in the mid-to-high teens, making it more favorable for casinos compared to the Small 6/Big 6 side bets that were launched earlier in May 2024.
Survey data indicates that Lucky 7/Super Lucky 7 is now available at all baccarat tables in major venues such as Galaxy, MGM, Melco, and Wynn, as well as selected premium mass tables at Sands and a few pits at SJM’s Grand Lisboa and Grand Lisboa Palace.