The figure, from the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), is also a 26% decline from September 2021, where GGR reached MOP5.88bn.

October’s total is the lowest of all months in 2021 so far, falling just behind August’s MOP4.44bn. May’s GGR of MOP10.45bn is the highest. The only other month to report a year-on-year decline is January, when GGR fell by 64%.

The disappointing figures come amid a small outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Macau in late September. This led to neighbouring Zhuhai introducing a measure that required all arrivals from Macau to enter a 14-day quarantine. The measure was lifted in mid-October after two rounds of mass testing returned no further positive results.

Visitor arrivals to Macau have, however, been increasing steadily since late last month. According to the Macau Government Tourism Office, a total of 28,299 visitors was recorded on 26 October, the highest daily tally since late September.

Total GGR for the first ten months of 2021 now stands at MOP72.15bn, a 57% increase from the first ten months of 2020.