Gaming tax collected by Macau authorities in 2022 amounted to just 55.9 percent of the amount authorities had estimated would be received, with the figure topping out at MOP19.11 billion ($2.39 billion).
Official data show that the tax amount collected is also a 44 percent decrease from the previous year.
The yearly decrease in tax revenue comes despite overall gross gaming revenues falling by 51.4 percent yearly in 2022, to just MOP42.19 billion ($5.27 billion), the worst GGR year on record.
It also corresponds with a year involving numerous casino shutdowns, city-wide mass COVID testing, strict border control measures and the finalizing of the new gaming concession contracts which came into effect on January 1st.
Following the strong rebound in visitation in January of this year, boosted by Chinese New Year, gaming revenues during the month rose by 82.5 percent, reaching MOP11.58 billion ($1.45 billion).
The figure, accompanying Macau’s opening of its borders and dropping of testing requirements, has prompted hope that Macau could start to see recoveries in both tourism and GGR, although not anywhere near levels seen in 2019.
