Citigroup Survey Findings and Weather Impact
Galaxy Macau emerged as the standout performer in Citigroup’s latest table survey, successfully drawing affluent gamblers despite Typhoon Noul weighing on overall casino traffic across Macau. In a Monday note, Citi analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau stated they were “more than surprised by the lively crowd we saw and the whales we ran into at Galaxy Macau”.
While Friday foot traffic across Macau casinos was initially dampened by a typhoon warning, Galaxy Macau experienced robust activity tied to the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals Macao 2026, held from July 22 to 26 at the Macau East Asian Games Dome. Galaxy Entertainment Group co-organized and sponsored the tournament, strategically hosting surrounding events such as team autograph sessions.
High-Roller Activity and Non-Gaming Strategies
During the survey, Citi recorded the three largest individual bets of July exclusively at Galaxy Macau: one player wagered HKD600,000 at Pavilion South, while two others placed bets of HKD440,000 and HKD300,000 in the Horizon Room. Elsewhere in the market, Citi observed a high-value Korean player wagering HKD100,000 at MGM Macau’s Supreme Room. MGM Macau also leveraged non-gaming initiatives by hosting a members-only concert featuring Chinese rock singer Wang Feng on July 18.
Overall, Citi’s survey findings reinforced that well-chosen non-gaming offerings can successfully attract wealthy mainland Chinese visitors and drive higher spending. Although total observed wagers rose 33% month-over-month to HKD13 million, the figures remained 19% below year-ago levels, with the number of observed premium mass players dropping 15% year-over-year to 581, implying a 5% decline in average wagers per player. Analysts noted that adverse weather may have caused some travelers to delay their trips.
