Published on: October 1, 2025, 09:05h.
Updated on: October 1, 2025, 09:05h.
- Macau casinos continued their positive trend in September, despite typhoon disruptions.
- Typhoon Ragasa largely avoided causing significant damage to the city, the only jurisdiction in China allowing casinos.
In September, Macau’s casinos were closed for a total of 33 hours due to a strong typhoon, but the renowned gaming destination emerged largely intact.
As Typhoon Ragasa, a powerful Category 10 cyclone, approached Macau from the south, the Special Administrative Region’s government ordered all casinos to shutter for safety. This mandated closure lasted for 33 hours, affecting access to the enclave situated just south of Hong Kong within China’s Greater Bay Area.
Despite losing over a day of operations, figures from the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau showed that September continued the city’s gaming growth trend. The six operators reported revenues of MOP18.28 billion (around US$2.28 billion).
This represented a 6% year-over-year increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR), marking the eighth consecutive month of growth.
Macau’s Ascendancy
The year 2025 is proving to be Macau’s most prosperous since the pandemic, with casino revenues surpassing $22.64 billion. This figure accounts for 91.5% of the total revenue recorded in the same timeframe in 2019.
Visitor statistics from the first eight months indicate arrivals reached 26.9 million, nearing pre-pandemic levels when the area saw 27.4 million visitors between January and August of 2019.
Macau has diversified beyond being merely a gambling haven for affluent mainlanders looking to relocate wealth away from the Chinese Communist Party’s tax-heavy policies.
Today, this Special Administrative Region has transformed into a leisure hot spot, offering family-friendly attractions such as amusement parks, cultural sites, and engaging experiences like the Macau Science Center and the TeamLab SuperNature exhibition. Additionally, Macau has become a focal point for K-pop, with major performances frequently staged in the opulent city.
Looking ahead, October is set to bolster the gaming landscape further, with an influx of 1.2 million visitors forecasted during the Oct. 1-8 Golden Week. This week-long celebration combines China’s National Day on Oct. 1 with the Mid-Autumn Festival, offering many workers a chance for a paid vacation in Macau.
Macau Unscathed
Macau emerged relatively unscathed from a significant typhoon event. As Ragasa approached, the city was on high alert for possible destruction. However, the storm shifted southward, sparing the casino enclave substantial damage.
While some flooding occurred in lower regions of Macau, and certain neighborhoods experienced power outages for safety precautions, the overall impact was limited. Prompt cleanup efforts began immediately after Ragasa passed to prepare for the upcoming holiday celebrations.
The Philippines bore the brunt of Ragasa, particularly in Northern Luzon, where it resulted in at least 29 fatalities and over $100 million in damages.
Ragasa marked the most intense storm in the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, which typically peaks from late June through early October.