October opened with a “softer” performance for Macau’s casino sector, according to a new report from Seaport Research Partners. Analyst Vitaly Umansky noted that during the eight-day Golden Week holiday, daily gross gaming revenue (GGR) averaged MOP910 million (US$114.25 million) — down 11% year-on-year, yet 17% higher than levels recorded during the Lunar New Year earlier this year.

When compared to May’s Golden Week, this October’s figures dipped slightly by 1%. Meanwhile, visitor spending also showed mixed trends: the average spend per visitor was US$793, marking a 12% decline from October 2024 but a 34% increase over the Lunar New Year period. Travelers spent 18% more than during May’s Golden Week, highlighting stronger mid-tier and leisure spending.

Umansky also pointed to a brief boost in gaming activity after the holiday period, driven by a three-day Jackson Wang concert at Galaxy Macau and an NBA-themed weekend at The Venetian. These events helped push daily GGR above MOP730 million.

For the first 12 days of October, Seaport estimates total casino revenue at MOP10.2 billion, with average daily GGR around MOP850 million. The rest of the month, however, may ease to about MOP665 million per day, as the surge from Golden Week subsides.

Despite the softer start, Umansky projects October’s total GGR could reach MOP22.86 billion (US$2.85 billion) — positioning it as the strongest month of 2025, and the best performance since November 2019.

Looking forward, Seaport forecasts double-digit growth through November and December, fueled by a rebound in premium play and returning high-value tourists who may have delayed their visits during Golden Week.