Macau's Economy Shrinks 20% in 2015 Amid Casino Gaming Slump

Gambling hurt by China's anti-graft campaign, slowing economy
Casinos shifting focus to mass market from VIP gamblers

Stacks of gaming chips stand next to a roulette wheel during the All Asia Dealers' Championship at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) inside the Venetian Macau resort and casino, operated by Sands China Ltd., a unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp., in Macau, China, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. The gaming expo runs through May 21.
Photographer: Billy H.C. Kwok/Bloomberg

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By Stephanie Hoi-Nga Wong and Daniela Wei

March 3, 2016 at 8:38 AM UTC

Updated on

March 3, 2016 at 10:06 AM UTC

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Macau’s economic output contracted 20.3 percent in 2015 as the world’s largest center of gambling was hurt by falling casino revenue and fewer visitors amid China’s anti-corruption campaign and slowing economy.

The Chinese city’s economy shrank 14.4 percent in the fourth quarter due to the continued decline in exports of tourism and gaming services, the local statistics bureau said in an e-mailed statement, easing from a fall of 24.2 percent drop in the three months through September.