Macau Casinos Positioned for Post-World Cup Rebound as Gaming Demand Recovers

The longest men’s FIFA World Cup in history came to a dramatic close on July 19. Spanning 39 days, 3 countries, 16 host cities, and 104 total matches, the 2026 tournament culminated in Spain claiming its second world title with a gripping 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina.

Macau, unlike legions of football fans around the world, has no post-World Cup blues. The Chinese casino capital is, in fact, quite glad the World Cup is in the past, as the soccer showpiece tournament caused considerable economic carnage in the gambling hub.

Following five strong months to 2026, where gross gaming revenue (GGR) was up 10.9% year-on-year, June and July saw casino win crash. June’s tally was down 12.1%, and July gaming revenue was 8.4% lower at MOP20.26 billion (US$2.51 billion).

The World Cup kept high rollers away from Macau, and those who did visit were more focused on betting on the tournament than VIP baccarat tables. July’s GGR result was about $230 million lower than July 2025.

Through seven months, 2026 GGR is now only 4.4% higher than it was at this time last year.

August Rebound

With the World Cup in the rearview mirror, analysts are optimistic for a quick rebound in Macau.

Vitaly Umansky, Seaport Research Partners’ senior global gaming analyst, expects demand to recover in August.

“We forecast August GGR to be +4.5% year-on-year, driven by a rebound in demand, with some customers coming back after deferring trips during the World Cup,” Umansky wrote.

Umansky projects business to remain strong into September, forecasting GGR growth of 11% year-on-year. In addition to the World Cup being finished, Umansky’s estimates are based on easier visa policies, including the city’s visa-on-arrival scheme that allows visitors from most countries to be granted access for stays of up to 30 days.

Not everyone is on board with Umansky’s lofty outlook. Analysts at JP Morgan expect August to be flat year-on-year, and September up 6%.

Did China Even Compete in the World Cup?

The World Cup weighed heavily on Macau despite China failing to qualify for the tournament. Football is wildly popular in the People’s Republic, with an estimated fan base of more than 200 million people. Interest is strongest in European leagues.

While basketball remains the most popular sport in China, about two in 10 say football is their favorite sport.  

China’s national football team has struggled historically to field a strong program. China has only qualified once for the World Cup. Their 2002 entry was short-lived, as the team lost all three of their matches in the group stage, going goalless against nine goals conceded.