Data published online by the Financial Services Bureau on Tuesday indicates that Macau’s surplus by October increased by 16.3% compared to the end of September.
Macau closed 2024 with a surplus of 15.8 billion patacas (1.71 billion euros), more than double the amount recorded the previous year.
The government’s initial forecast for the entire year of 2025 projected a surplus of 6.83 billion patacas (737.5 million euros).
However, the revised budget approved by the Macau parliament at the beginning of July anticipated a surplus of only 191.1 million patacas (20.6 million euros).
The surplus increase is primarily attributed to Macau’s current revenue, which grew by 3.3% in the first ten months of the year, reaching 92.6 billion patacas (10 billion euros).
The main driver was a 6.1% increase, amounting to 77.5 billion patacas (8.37 billion euros), in gaming tax revenues—which comprise 83.3% of the total.
The city’s six gaming operators pay a direct tax of 35% on gaming revenues, with 2.4% allocated to the Macau Social Security Fund and urban and tourist development, and 1.6% to the Macau Foundation for cultural, educational, scientific, academic, and philanthropic purposes.
Macau casinos’ total gaming revenue reached 205.4 billion patacas (22.2 billion euros) in the first ten months of the year, an 8% increase from the same period in 2024.
Public spending also rose, albeit just by 0.18%, amounting to 75.8 billion patacas (8.18 billion euros), despite the budget revision bolstering social support.
The government’s proposal increased expected budget expenses by 2.86 billion patacas (308.8 million euros) to enhance social support.
The revision includes the creation of a subsidy totaling 54,000 patacas (over 5,800 euros) for children up to three years old, in an effort to boost the world’s lowest birthrate, based on a 2024 United Nations report.
However, spending on social support and subsidies fell by 1.15% compared to the first ten months of 2024, to 43.6 billion patacas (4.71 billion euros).
Expenditures on the Administration’s Investment and Expenditure Plan also decreased by 0.44% compared to the same period last year, totaling 13.1 billion patacas (1.42 billion euros).
