Typhoon Closure to Dent Macau’s September GGR by 5%

The 33-hour shutdown of all Macau casinos during Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to shave around 5% off September’s gross gaming revenue (GGR), according to analysts from CLSA and IGamiX. CLSA’s Jeffrey Kiang estimated the closure cost operators MOP880 million (US$109.9 million) in lost revenue, based on average daily GGR prior to the storm.

While the market impact is notable, experts believe investors had already priced in volatility for September, a month traditionally hit by typhoons and falling between the summer holidays and the lucrative October Golden Week. IGamiX’s Ben Lee added that the suspension covered “two full nights” of gaming activity, underscoring why the loss was significant but manageable within broader recovery trends.

Importantly, damage to physical properties was minimal. Resorts like Ponte 16, once heavily affected by Typhoon Hato in 2017, reported no significant issues thanks to flood-prevention upgrades, while Cotai properties also avoided major disruptions. With over 20 luxury hotels already sold out for Golden Week, operators remain confident the holiday surge will offset Ragasa’s short-term drag, keeping September on track for year-on-year GGR growth.