Poker Writer
Macau’s gaming sector exceeded forecasts in 2025, with a strong second half bringing the final total to $11.8 billion in tax revenue. The Macau Special Administrative Region Government (SAR) collected revenue that exceeded the projected total of $11.6 billion.
The gaming revenue of $30.7 billion generated by the big six operators of Sands, Galaxy, Wynn, MGM, Melco, and SJM was the most since 2019.
Macau taxes gaming revenue at an effective rate of 40%. The taxes are divided through a variety of avenues. Most of it goes to the SAR’s general fund. Some of it goes to support social and cultural funds. A portion is also put right back into the promotion of tourism and urban development.
Casinos the Name of the Game in Macau
Despite the Macau Government’s attempts to diversify its economy to reduce reliance on the casino market, casino revenue remains the dominant force.
In 2022, Macau included provisions to require the big six resort operators to invest heavily, as much as $16 billion, into non-gaming amenities. But the region remains dominated by casinos, with few new non-gambling businesses emerging in the world’s most lucrative gaming hub.
Research conducted earlier in 2026 confirmed that gambling accounted for about 82% of the government’s recurrent revenue during the 2023-2024 period. Numbers have not changed much for 2025. The authors of the study wrote:
The data clearly show that the gaming industry remains the core pillar of public finance and employment in Macau.
Poker Room Closures Despite Revenue Growth
Poker rooms in Macau have been shutting down at a rapid pace, even though the casinos are doing well. The revenue from poker in Macau increased by 10% in 2025, even with fewer tables available.
As in Las Vegas, with the closure of several poker rooms recently, these closures allow casinos to commit more floor space to more lucrative options, such as slots and table games.
However, the revenue growth shows that the consolidation could be healthy. Las Vegas’ situation has developed similarly. Even as many casinos drop poker, the ones that do offer it are seeing record business.
