The Macau government collected a total of MOP$65.3 billion (US$8.10 billion) in gaming tax revenue in 2023, up 241% year-on-year and 28.3% higher than the government’s budgeted gaming tax revenue for the year.
The improvement follows the reopening of Macau’s borders in January last year, which saw gaming revenues climb by 334% year-on-year to MOP$183.1 billion (US$22.7 billion).
December’s tax take of MOP$6.19 billion (US$768 million) was lower than the MOP$7.52 billion (US$933 million) collected in November, although November’s gaming tax related to the month of October when gaming revenues were boosted by the October Golden Week holiday period.
The Macau government originally budgeted gaming tax of MOP$50.9 billion (US$6.31 billion)in 2023, however the final result reached 128.3% of the forecast.
Total tax revenue for the year reached MOP$84.4 billion (US$10.5 billion), of which gaming tax comprised 77.3%.
The government has set a gaming tax budget of MOP$83.6 billion (US$10.4 billion) for 2024 with January tax coming in at MOP$1.58 billion (US$196 million) or 8.8% of the total.