Macao casino revenue sinks 79% as mainlanders stay away

Facilities reopen, but pandemic-related restrictions hinder business

The Casino Lisboa in Macao in December 2019. The territory's gaming industry has been hit hard by a drop in visitors from outside its borders. © Reuters

TAKESHI KIHARA, Nikkei staff writer

January 6, 2021 03:42 JST

HONG KONG -- Macao's casino revenue plunged 79% in 2020 as tough entry restrictions to combat COVID-19 kept visitors away, bringing into relief the strong dependence on gamblers from mainland China.

Gross revenue came to 60.4 billion pataca ($7.6 billion) in statistics from the Macao government. The figure declined for a second straight year, hitting a 14-year low.