Macau’s government brought in some MOP7.12 billion ($882.71 million) in gaming tax revenue during the month of March, a 77.26 percent yearly increase but down slightly month-on-month.
According to official data, the territory’s first quarter gaming tax revenue now totals MOP22.92 billion ($2.84 billion), some 26.2 percent of the amount budgeted by the government for this year –MOP83.61 billion ($10.36 billion).
The quarterly figure is also an annual increase of 116.8 percent.
The figure comes as gross gaming revenue during the first quarter topped MOP57.32 billion ($7.1 billion), a 65.5 percent annual rise.
March alone contributed the year’s highest GGR, at MOP19.5 billion ($2.42 billion), a 53.1 percent annual rise.
The gaming tax figures further demonstrate the Macau government’s reliance on gaming revenues, with the first quarter gaming tax amounting to 83.52 percent of the government’s total income during the period.
It also marks the first quarter of gaming tax derived from operators under the new 10-year casino licenses, part of which includes a mandate to increase non-gaming and overseas visitation.
Gaming revenues have been boosted by a return in visitation, with some 8.87 million visitors to the SAR in the first quarter, up 79.4 percent yearly and returning to some 85.7 percent of 2019 levels.
International visitors during the period reached 68.2 percent of 1Q19 levels, or 584,026.
