The Macau government raised MOP$23.6 billion through direct taxes on the gaming industry in the three months to 31 December 2018, a 17.7% increase on the MOP$22.3 billion in gaming taxes accrued during the same period last year.
The figure represents 84.5% of all revenue brought in by the government for the first three months of the year, with total revenue for the period coming in at MOP$31.1 billion. It also means that the government has already accrued 29.6% of its budgeted revenue for 2018 including 31.9% of budgeted gaming revenue.
The public surplus now sits at MOP$15.7 billion, up 20.8% over the same time last year and representing 227% of the government’s 2018 surplus budget.