Macau’s Registered Junkets Shrink to 29 Amid Weaker Second Quarter
2026-07-21
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Macau's registered junket entities have dropped to 29, down from 31, even as a 2027 quota of 50 remains in place. The market faced a weaker second quarter in 2026, partly due to the FIFA World Cup, though early recovery signs have appeared.
Macau’s junket sector has continued its contraction, with the number of officially registered entities falling to 29, according to the latest data from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). That figure represents a reduction of two from the 31 junkets recorded in late March.
The decline comes despite Macau setting a 2027 quota of 50 junket operators, a ceiling established by a mandate issued by the Secretary for Economy and Finance on 23 June 2026. Under the regulatory framework introduced in 2022, each junket is permitted to work with only one gaming concessionaire.
Market performance and World Cup impact
The wider gaming market posted total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of MOP 126.9 billion ($15.70 billion) in the first half of 2026, a 6.8% increase year-on-year. However, the second quarter proved weaker, with GGR reaching MOP 61.2 billion – a 7.4% drop from the MOP 66 billion recorded in Q1.
Baccarat remained the largest contributor to casino revenue in Q2, generating MOP 35.2 billion. VIP baccarat contributed an additional MOP 15.9 billion, though both segments registered declines compared with the prior quarter.
Industry observers attributed part of the Q2 softness to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which coincided with Macau’s first year-on-year monthly GGR decline of the year in June. Early signs of recovery have since emerged; estimated average daily GGR rose approximately 9% from the previous week as the tournament’s drag eased.