Published on: January 11, 2026, 11:18h.
Updated on: January 11, 2026, 11:18h.
- Five out of six Macau casino operators have declared annual bonuses
- These one-time incentives are designated for non-executive employees
- Macau experienced its most prosperous year post-pandemic in 2025
In 2025, Macau’s casinos had a remarkable year, and the gaming operators are sharing their financial success with the workforce that contributes to their achievements.
As is the tradition in January following a lucrative year, most casino operators in Macau have unveiled substantial bonuses for non-executive staff.
Galaxy Entertainment announced that its discretionary bonus covers about 97% of its workforce, including all positions from senior management downwards. Melco Resorts specified that all “non-management” staff in Macau and Hong Kong would receive a one-month bonus, but the exact percentage of eligible employees wasn’t disclosed. MGM China stated that 97% of its employees in China would receive a bonus equivalent to one month’s salary.
Wynn Macau confirmed it would distribute a “special allowance” equivalent to one month’s gross salary, commemorating the company’s 20th anniversary in the Chinese Special Administrative Region. Wynn reported that 98% of its 11,552 employees qualified for this benefit.
On Sunday, SJM Resorts announced a similar initiative, granting a one-month bonus to non-executive personnel. Sands China has yet to announce its bonus, but it is expected to do so shortly.
2025 Recovery in Gaming
The year 2025 marked a significant recovery for Macau’s gaming sector, the largest casino market globally. The six operators collectively posted gross gaming revenue (GGR) approaching $30.9 billion, more than double that of the Las Vegas Strip.
This $30.9 billion milestone represented a 9.1% increase over 2024 and a remarkable 36% rise from 2023, when Macau’s casino earnings were $22.7 billion. The success of 2025 surpassed forecasts as casinos shifted their focus from high rollers, who diminished following the decline of VIP junkets, towards premium mass players and everyday patrons.
While premium mass players continue to wager hundreds of US dollars per baccarat hand, some stake thousands per deal. Although the traditional high rollers who placed bets in the thousands or tens of thousands per hand in private rooms have largely vanished, casinos report that offering fewer perks and comps to premium players has improved their profitability.
Unprecedented Visitor Influx
The shift towards a broader market was validated by the visitor statistics for 2025. Macau’s Public Security Police, responsible for monitoring border entries, reported that over 40 million visitors flocked to the region last year.
The official count of 40.06 million not only surpassed Macau’s previous record year of 39.41 million visitors set in 2019 but also marked a 14.7% increase over 2024, which saw 34.94 million entries.