Macau casinos experienced their worst monthly gross gaming revenue (GGR) in June 2022, winning slightly less than MOP2.5 billion (US$310 million) from gamers as the gaming properties remained empty due to COVID-19 outbreak.

According to newly published data, Macau casinos posted a combined GGR of MOP 2.48 billion (US$310 million), down 26 per cent year-over-year. For reference, the six main casino operators in Macau had reported GGR of nearly $3 billion in June 2019, prior to the start of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first six months of 2022, Macau casinos have reported a GGR of approximately $3.25 billion. For reference, through the first six months of 2019, the same six casino giants had reported a GGR of more than $18.5 billion. The data shows that Macau casinos are once again struggling to survive as consumers have been instructed by the government to cut down all non-essential activities, including casino gaming.

Due to restrictions imposed by the Macau government to tackle the pandemic, Macau casinos remained vacant in the month under review. The former Portuguese enclave is actually showing its adherence to China’s “zero COVID” policy. It is worth-mentioning here that Macau was one of the few territories in the world that had managed to keep the number Covid-19 infections near zero in 2020. Now, the situation is alarming, as the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR) has already reported more than 630 positive cases of the potentially deadly infection.

Both China and Macau are currently struggling to contain the latest outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. While life in several countries, including the United States and India, has largely returned to normal; China and its SAR are taking drastic steps as part of their desperate efforts to contain the highly infectious disease.

At present, nearly two dozen neighborhoods in the Chinese SAR are under lockdown. Residents have been strictly instructed not to leave their homes for any reason other than an essential cause. Health experts have warned that the latest variant — dubbed BA.5.1 Omicron — is the most contagious strain of the deadly virus to date.

Even as much of Macau is currently under lockdown, local government authorities have sought to keep casinos open, as gaming provides employment to more people than any other sector in the region. However, with the virus continue to rage on, government officials have started cracking down on gaming operations too.