Macau’s public finances in early 2026 continued to be heavily shaped by its casino sector, with gaming-related taxes forming the dominant share of government income, according to newly released official data.
Figures from the Financial Services Bureau show that total current revenue reached MOP28.73 billion ($3.57 billion) in the three months ended March 31, with nearly 89.8% of that amount derived from taxes on gaming activities. The contribution reflects the central role of the industry under the city’s fiscal structure.
In absolute terms, the government collected MOP25.80 billion ($3.20 billion), equivalent to US$3.20 billion, in gaming tax revenue during the first quarter. This marked an increase of 15.9% compared with the same period a year earlier, indicating stronger fiscal inflows linked to casino operations.
The latest monthly data show that gaming tax revenue for March stood at just above MOP8.87 billion ($1.1 billion). This represented a 2.1% increase from the previous month, suggesting moderate sequential growth toward the end of the quarter.
Under Macau’s current regulatory framework, casino operators are subject to an effective tax rate of 40% on gross gaming revenue. The structure has been in place since January 1, 2023, following the introduction of a 10-year concession system governing the sector.
Separate official data indicate that Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue reached MOP20.63 billion ($2.56 billion) in February, rising 4.5% year-on-year. However, comparisons between gross gaming revenue and tax receipts over the same calendar period remain imprecise due to timing differences in reporting.
Authorities note that there is typically a delay between when casino operators record gross gaming revenue and when the corresponding tax payments are registered by the government. As a result, fiscal data and gaming performance figures may not align directly within a given month or quarter.
The Macau government has projected total gaming tax revenue of nearly MOP92.53 billion ($11.49 billion) for the full year. The amount collected in the first quarter accounts for approximately 27.9% of that annual target, placing early-year collections largely in line with expectations.