Survey shows 11% increase in number of high-stakes gamblers in Macau casinos

A December research by Citi Research on high rollers in Macau casinos found that there were around 11% more “whales” than there were in November.

Twenty high-stakes gamblers were identified in the December survey, as opposed to eighteen in the previous month, based on a wager of at least HKD 100,000 (US$12,818).

Analysts George Choi and Ryan Cheung claim that investors are more concerned about the state of the Chinese economy than athletes are, despite the country’s recent rise in respiratory illnesses. The research indicates that big stakes bettors still have tenacious tendencies when it comes to buying luxury goods.

The “Player of the Month” was seen in December placing wagers worth HKD610,000. He was at the Horizon Room of the Galaxy Macau casino on Cotai. Four other high rollers were also wagering amounts between HKD150,000 and HKD210,000 in the Macau area; some of them had chip stacks above HKD1 million.

The average minimum bet in Macau was HKD2,064, according to the December survey. This was about 12% greater than the HKD1,834 recorded in December 2019.

Following Macau’s “reopening” (the lifting of travel restrictions connected to COVID-19) in January, Citi surveys have consistently shown that, compared to the corresponding months in 2019, the average premium mass wager per player is much higher, ranging from 22 percent to 94 percent.

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, Macau’s casino regulator, has released data that indicates a shift in the market’s structure. In the third quarter of this year, VIP baccarat, the favorite game for high-value players, only contributed to 24.1% of Macau casino gross gaming revenue (GGR). VIP baccarat made up 43.9 percent of total GGR in the third quarter of 2019, mostly from junkets, a sector that has since shrunk.

Original story by: GGRAsia