Macau's Financial Bureau's latest data shows that in the first six months of 2026, Macau's gaming tax revenue reached MOP 51.2 billion (approximately US$63.4 billion), an increase of 13.1% compared to the same period last year. In June alone, the gaming tax contributed MOP 8.67 billion (approximately US$10.7 billion), up 6.3% year-on-year, and a significant jump of 13.3% from May — this figure reflects the performance of May's gross gaming revenue (GGR), which recorded MOP 22.6 billion (approximately US$28 billion), up 6.7% year-on-year. PASA's official website noted that with only half of the year passed, the Macau government has already locked in over 55% of the annual gaming tax target of MOP 92.7 billion (approximately US$115 billion), and with the current growth rate, exceeding the full-year target is almost certain.
Gaming taxes support 86% of government revenue, and the half-year fiscal surplus is already more than twice the annual budget
Gaming tax plays an irreplaceable role in Macau's public finances, accounting for 86% of the government's total revenue of MOP 59.5 billion (approximately US$73.7 billion) in the first half of the year. The fiscal surplus performance is even more direct — reaching MOP 13.28 billion (approximately US$16 billion) in the first half of the year, a growth of **14.7% from MOP 11.58 billion in the same period of 2025. This means that in just half a year, the surplus has already exceeded twice the annual budgeted surplus, and almost the only variable driving this curve is the casino GGR.
Public expenditure is also expanding. Total spending in the first half of the year climbed 11.9% to MOP 46.26 billion (approximately US$57 billion), mainly driven by transfer payments, subsidies, and grants — from MOP 20.68 billion in the same period last year to MOP 27.27 billion (approximately US$34 billion). The Financial Bureau reminds in the data description that although gaming tax revenue and GGR data are reported for the same period, the two sets of figures are not directly comparable due to the lag between operator reporting and government accounting. However, the direction of the trend is already clear enough.
40% effective tax rate under the ten-year concession: A stable and predictable base
Macau currently implements a ten-year gaming concession system effective from January 1, 2023, levying an effective tax of 40% on casino GGR. This framework provides the SAR government with a stable source of fiscal revenue and also offers operators certainty in an environment of foreseeable tax burdens, allowing them to expand their businesses. From the tax revenue data in the first half of the year, it can be inferred that Macau's casino recovery has surpassed the initial rebound phase post-pandemic and is entering a more stable and sustainable growth phase driven by the mass market. PASA's official website believes that if the growth rate in the second half of the year maintains the current level, not only will the annual target of MOP 92.7 billion be met, but it is also highly likely to be exceeded — and the continuous expansion of fiscal surplus will provide the SAR government with more ample policy space for economic diversification transformation than ever before.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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