Premium mass players now prepared for multiple visits to Macau, CLSA survey finds

Macau is likely to continue attracting premium travelers seeking to gamble over the next 12 months despite global economic uncertainties.

According to a recent survey by Hong Kong investment bank CLSA on the resilience of the casino sector, 78 percent of respondents plan to visit Macau before March 2025, with 84 percent intending to stay multiple nights.

Additionally, 70 percent of respondents said they would make at least two visits in the next 12 months, up from 57 percent last year, Macau Business reported. Furthermore, 96 percent plan to stay for two nights or more, which signals the arrival of more “premium mass participants” to Macau.

The investment group surveyed 800 Chinese nationals with prior gaming experience.

The premium mass market refers to high-limit gaming areas that cater to non-VIP (non-hosted) players who predominantly bet in cash. Recently, casinos have been converting former VIP junket rooms into these venues, following Macao’s government crackdown on junket operators. Since the pandemic, there has been significant growth in the mass market segment's contributions to gross gaming revenue.

On the non-gaming front, 65 percent of those surveyed view Macau as a more appealing shopping destination post-Covid. The China Reality Research study also indicated that 45 percent of respondents could benefit from recent policy changes in the Individual Visit Scheme.

The survey revealed that 95 percent of respondents intend to maintain their spending levels, including gaming, similar to last year's results. Of the people who participated, 56 percent plan to visit at least two resorts during their trips. Sands China remains the most popular concessionaire, with Venetian Macao being the most popular property. The popularity of MGM China and Wynn Macau has also grown year on year.

The study concluded that nearly all respondents perceive Macau as a safe destination. Regarding individual spending on gaming, 33 percent of respondents plan to spend less than RMB5,000 ($690), while 27 percent plan to spend between RMB5,000 and RMB25,000 ($690 - $3448). Additionally, 16 percent anticipate spending between RMB25,001 and RMB50,000 ($3448 - $6,896).