u casinos saw their collective gross casino revenue decline by under 30% year-on-year for the first time since January in October.

The monthly total of 20.06bn patacas is down 28% year-on-year and marks the 17th consecutive year-on-year monthly decrease for the market, figures released by the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) have revealed.

It also marks a month-on-month increase on September’s 17.13bn patacas generated, which was the lowest monthly figure to have been reported since September 2010.

The year-to-date Macau gross casino revenue total of 196.07bn patacas represents a drop of 36%.

An annual fall of 3% in gross casino revenue to 351.52bn patacas was the first to have been reported since records began in 2002.

The releasing of the figures follows Manuel Joaquim das Neves’ confirmation last week that he will step down from the position of director of the DICJ this month, a role he has held since 1997.

Another highlight of the month was the opening ceremony of Melco Crown Entertainment’s Studio City casino resort, which was attended by Macau chief executive Dr Fernando Chui Sai On and featured a performance from singer Mariah Carey, as well as the airing of a Melco Crown advertisement starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.