The Macau government saw its direct gaming tax revenue rise 17.0% year-on-year through the first eight months of 2018 to MOP$70.9 billion, according to latest numbers released by the Financial Services Bureau.
Gaming taxes continue to soar in 2018, with gaming tax revenue comprising 81.7% of the Macau government’s MOP$86.8 billion in total revenue between January and August. It also means that the government’s coffers have already reached 86% of its target revenue of MOP$82.4 billion from gaming for the year.
The surplus currently stands at MOP$552 million.
Despite the ongoing revenue growth, recent months have seen a slowdown in gaming taxes – a reflection of a similar slowdown in gross gaming revenue raked in by Macau’s casino operators – with August contributing just MOP$5.9 billion to 2018’s MOP$70.9 billion in gaming taxes.
September will likely see the industry’s tax contribution slow further with the effects of Typhoon Mangkhut resulting in GGR growth of just 2.8% to MOP$21.9 billion – well below the previously estimated range of low-to-mid teens.