Macau-wide gross gaming revenues from mass baccarat reached MOP$34.09 billion (US$4.26 billion) in the three months to 30 September 2024, comprising 61.1% of all gaming revenues for the period according to information from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
The Q3 mass baccarat figure was slightly down on both the March and June quarters but was 11.5% higher than the same period in 2019 and 14.5% higher than in 3Q23.
Total industry GGR for the September 2024 quarter was MOP$55.7 billion (US$6.96 billion), also slightly down on both Q1 and Q2 and again highlighting the ongoing decline of the VIP baccarat segment.
Based on the DICJ’s figures, VIP baccarat of MOP$13.08 billion (US$1.63 billion) was 11.2% higher year-on-year but down 57.9% compared with the same period in 2019. VIP baccarat also comprised just 23.5% of total industry GGR compared with 43.8% in 2019.
For reference, at its 2013 peak, VIP baccarat generated GGR of MOP$57.8 billion (US$7.22 billion) in the September quarter or 64.6% of industry-wide revenue.
As reported by IAG, the number of licensed junkets in Macau had been halved to just 18 in 2024, down from 36 last year and from a high of 235 in 2013 – although that figure has recently climbed slightly to 24.
The Macau government has also updated its junket law, with each junket now only permitted to work with one concessionaire, unable to operate their own VIP rooms within casinos and not permitted to engage in revenue share agreements with operators.
