Macau Casinos Reopen After Typhoon Shutdown as GGR Forecast is Cut

• Casinos across Macau have reopened after a roughly 14-hour shutdown forced by the close passage of Super Typhoon Ragasa.
• The closure was the first test of a new, stricter government policy, which now mandates a city-wide casino shutdown whenever a No. 8 typhoon signal is hoisted.
• The powerful storm, which was eventually raised to the maximum No. 10 signal, brought significant flooding to low-lying areas of the city and caused power outages for some 16,000 households.
• In response to the disruption, investment bank Citigroup has cut its September Gross Gaming Revenue ( GGR) forecast for Macau to MOP18.5 billion ($2.3bn).
• The orderly shutdown and reopening are being seen as a successful implementation of the city’s enhanced disaster preparedness measures, which were put in place after the deadly Typhoon Hato in 2017.

Macau’s casino industry is back in business, with all gaming floors reopening at 6:00 AM local time today following a mandatory, city-wide shutdown for Super Typhoon Ragasa. The closure, which lasted approximately 14 hours, was the first real-world test of the government’s new, more cautious typhoon safety policy.

The city’s gaming regulator, the DICJ, ordered the closure to begin at 4:00 PM on Wednesday when the No. 8 storm signal was raised. This is a lower and more proactive threshold than in previous years, reflecting a greater emphasis on public safety.

The Storm’s Impact

The government’s caution proved to be well-founded. Super Typhoon Ragasa intensified as it approached, prompting the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau to eventually raise the maximum No. 10 warning signal. The storm brought torrential rain and significant storm surges, causing water levels to rise by over a metre in low-lying commercial and residential areas like the Inner Harbour.

Around 16,000 households experienced power outages at the peak of the storm, and all transport links with Hong Kong and mainland China were suspended. Clean-up operations are now underway across the city.

The Financial Fallout

The inevitable economic cost of the shutdown was made clear almost immediately. Investment bank Citigroup has already revised its forecast for Macau’s September Gross Gaming Revenue ( GGR) downwards to MOP18.5 billion (approx. $2.3bn). This is the second downward revision for the month and reflects the impact of the lost operating hours combined with what the bank described as weaker-than-expected gaming activity earlier in the period.

A Legacy of Preparedness

While the closure will cause a short-term hit to GGR, the event is being viewed as a successful vindication of the reforms implemented after the deadly Typhoon Hato in 2017. That disaster exposed serious gaps in the city’s civil protection and forced chaotic, unplanned casino shutdowns.

In contrast, this week’s pre-planned and orderly closure and reopening demonstrates a mature and responsible approach to crisis management from both the Macau government and the city’s six casino concessionaires. It’s a clear sign that public safety is now a non-negotiable priority, even for the world’s largest gambling hub.