The amount wagered by Macau premium mass players grew by 5% month-on-month in August, reflecting a significant increase in player numbers according to Citi’s latest table survey.
Analysts George Choi and Ryan Cheung said in a Monday note that, based on their observations, the number of premium mass players seen during the unspecified time period was 468 – up 31% from 357 players in July – suggesting more casual premium mass players were starting to return to Macau.
While this saw the average wager per player decline month-on-month, the increased volume saw the total wager rise by 5% compared with July.
“In terms of recovery versus pre-COVID levels, total wager observed in August 2023 implies an 84% recovery versus August 2019,” the analysts added.
“The number of premium mass players seen in August 2023 was 65% of what we saw in August 2019, therefore the average wager per player was 29% better versus August 2019.”
Choi and Cheung also observed more “whales” – players betting HK$100,000 (US$12,800) per hand or more – than in any month previously in 2023 with 24 spotted.
That the average bet per plater appears to have declined is of no great concern, they explained, with the trend most likely a result of seasonality.
“The data that we gathered before COVID showed similar month-on-month declines in wager per player in 2018 and 2019,” they said. “We believe this seasonal trend is attributable to the fact that the visitation-strong month of August is also a month when the more casual, less keen players show up.”
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