Posted on: November 20, 2025, 12:18h.
Last updated on: November 19, 2025, 12:26h.
- Macau will review casino investments in the new year
- The Chinese city’s six casino operators agreed to invest $16 billion in nongaming projects
- The pledge came in 2022 with new gaming concessions
In December 2022, the Macau government agreed to issue new gaming licenses to its six casino operators. In exchange, Sands, Galaxy, Wynn, MGM, Melco, and SJM agreed to invest many billions of dollars into resort improvements and expansions, with the bulk of the capital mandated to go to nongaming initiatives.
Macau, at the direction of Beijing, used the relicensing process to field investments that will ideally bring new people to the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The six gaming firms agreed to invest about $19.3 billion, with upwards of $16 billion stipulated for projects off the gaming floor.
Almost three years later, several of the casinos claim they’ve already carried out their investment obligations. Thousands of hotel rooms have been renovated, investments in sports and K-pop have been made, and family-friendly attractions have been developed.
Macau Chief Executive Wants Audits
During his 2026 Policy Address to the Legislative Assembly, Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said an emphasis in the new year will be on ensuring that the casinos carry out their investment responsibilities.
We will conduct a review of concessionaires’ investment projects and amounts in both gaming and nongaming sectors from 2023 to 2025, their fulfillment of social responsibilities, and compliance with laws and statutory obligations,” Sam said, as reported by Inside Asian Gaming. “We urge concessionaires to fulfill their concession contract commitments, implement gaming and nongaming investments, and expand diversified tourism projects and products.”
Since the 2022 tenders, each casino has been required to submit implementation status reports to the SAR government specifying investments made in the prior year and plans for the 12 months ahead.
“The government does monitor the investment situation.” Tai Kin Ip, Macau’s secretary for economy and finance, said earlier this year.
Macau Outlook
Macau is roaring, as its casinos, the enclave’s economic heartbeat, are experiencing their best post-COVID-19 year to date. October was the city’s best month in terms of casino revenue since October 2019, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching more than $3 billion.
Year to date, Macau GGR is up 8%. The six casinos have won MOP15.28 billion (US$1.9 billion) more gaming money from players through nine months than they did in 2024.
Macau is meanwhile diversifying, with its casinos no longer being the primary focal point. Economic analysts expect GDP growth to be around 2.6% this year. As for 2026, analysts are “cautiously optimistic” about further growth, despite global headwinds like the ongoing threats of trade tariffs with the US.
While growth is growth, the 2.6% projection for this year from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a reduction from the earlier 3.6% forecast. The IMF said global trade worries tampered results.
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