Inside Asian Gaming

FEB 2019 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 15 MACAU RAISES 2019 GAMING TAX BUDGET TO ALMOST MOP$100 BILLION THE Macau government has raised its revenue forecast from the city’s six casino operators by 12.9% for the year ahead, setting its 2019 concession tax budget at MOP$98.6 billion (US$12.2 billion). The increase comes after Macau comfortably exceeded its budget of MOP$82.4 billion in gaming tax in 2018, having already hit MOP$97.9 billion through November. Final full-year gaming tax revenue is yet to be released. According to information published by the Financial Services Bureau, the SAR has high hopes once again for 2019 despite analysts forecasting a slowing of the city’s GGR growth in the coming months. The government’s full 2019 budget has been raised by 11.4% to MOP$116.6 billion (US$14.4 billion) in 2019 of which the new gaming tax budget comprises almost 85%.