Macao officially inaugurated the Chinese New Year on Tuesday with the traditional Golden Dragon Parade at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, one of the region’s most emblematic monuments. However, the celebration began unofficially over the weekend, when the special administrative region received an estimated influx of 279.400 visitors, according to local media reports.
Read also: Nigeria faces a regulatory standoff as the sector awaits greater stability
On Saturday alone, more than 132.000 tourists entered, the vast majority from mainland China, confirming the decisive weight of that market for Macao’s economy during the spring festivities.
Nine days of vacation with expectations of 1,5 million tourists
The holidays extend until February 23, consolidating this period as the peak season par excellence for mainland travelers who choose Macao as their destination. The region is the only place in China where gambling is legal, making it a center of attraction without competition within the country.
Local tourism authorities project up to 1,5 million visitors throughout the season, a figure that would represent a significant jump compared to the 1,31 million recorded during the previous year’s Chinese New Year.
Macao’s casinos generated nearly 31.000 million dollars in 2025
Macao’s tourist appeal is closely linked to its gambling industry, the most profitable in the world. The region’s casinos generated nearly 31.000 million dollars in gross gaming revenue during 2025, a number that reinforces its position as the most lucrative gambling jurisdiction on the planet, far above Las Vegas.
For the month of February, Citigroup analysts project gross gaming revenue of 20.500 million Macao patacas (MOP), which would represent a 4% increase compared to the same month in 2025. Market expectations accompany the optimism of local authorities.
Read also: Brazil: online betting and weight-loss drugs reduce the family budget for basic products
Macao’s Chief Executive sent a message of prosperity to residents
Within the framework of the festivities, Macao’s Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, issued a message on the occasion of the New Year in which he wished “prosperity and stability” for the region and “peace and happiness” for its residents. The tone of the message reflected the positive atmosphere with which the local administration welcomes a season that is anticipated to be one of the most active in recent years.
China warns its citizens about gambling outside Macao following a death in Singapore
Parallel to the celebrations, the Chinese embassy in Singapore issued a reminder addressed to its citizens not to participate in gambling activities in any jurisdiction outside Macao. The statement came against the backdrop of the recent death of a Chinese citizen at Marina Bay Sands, one of Singapore’s two casino resorts, who died after falling from a height after participating in gambling.
The embassy noted that authorities have handled several gambling-related deaths in Singapore in recent years and explicitly warned that “overseas gambling violates national laws” and that diplomatic representations cannot provide consular protection for illegal activities. The message closed with a direct call: “With the arrival of the Chinese New Year, strengthen your legal awareness and stay away from gambling.”
A citizen reporting platform generates comparisons with the Cultural Revolution
The official warning did not come alone. China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a digital platform intended for citizens themselves to report suspected cases of illegal gambling. According to analysis by the media outlet China Observers, this “community surveillance” mechanism bears similarities to practices from the Cultural Revolution, when citizens were encouraged to monitor and report their neighbors to the authorities.
The measure highlights the tension that exists within China between the growing gambling tourism to Macao, tolerated and encouraged as an escape valve within the country itself, and the government’s attempts to curb its citizens’ access to casinos in other international jurisdictions.
Read also: Netherlands warns that banning all advertising would strengthen the illegal market
