Macau casinos are lowering minimum bets to attract mass-market customers while premium players are wagering more, Citi said in its latest table survey, pointing to a broadening range of offerings as the market recovers from a weaker period during the football World Cup.
Total premium mass wagers observed during Citi’s August survey rose 7% from a year earlier to HK$14.3 million ($1.83 million), even as the number of premium players observed fell 16% to 525.
Average wagering per premium player increased 27% to HK$27,284, while the average minimum bet across Macau’s mass baccarat tables fell 13% to HK$1,901 from HK$2,191 a year earlier, according to the brokerage.
The figures suggest operators are widening their appeal by offering lower entry points to regular players while continuing to attract higher spending from premium customers.
Citi identified 31 high-spending players, or “whales”, during the August survey, seven more than in July but one fewer than a year earlier. Their average wager jumped 54% year-on-year to HK$243,548.
The largest wager observed was HK$820,000 at the Chairman’s Club at Wynn Palace. Citi also recorded wagers of HK$680,000 at Wynn Encore and HK$650,000 at the Signature Club at City of Dreams.
Wynn ranked first in the premium mass survey, accounting for 29% of total wagers observed, up from 18% a year earlier. Its Chairman’s Club recorded an average wager of HK$117,300, the highest among the 19 premium mass rooms visited by Citi.
At the lower end of the market, Citi found new gaming tables at City of Dreams with minimum bets ranging from HK$300 to HK$1,000. The brokerage said it was the first time it had observed the casino offering a baccarat table with a minimum bet as low as HK$300.
Casino operators are also investing in their premium offerings. MGM Cotai recently opened a premium slot area near its Masters Club, while renovation work was under way at its Supreme Room. Citi also observed renovation work at City of Dreams and construction near Wynn Palace that appeared to signal the start of work on The Enclave.
Citi said concerns about weakness in Macau’s gross gaming revenue in June and July were easing following the impact of the football World Cup, with premium customers continuing to spend on gaming and non-gaming products.
The brokerage maintained its forecast for Macau’s gross gaming revenue to grow 6% in 2026.
