Macau's gross gaming revenues (GGR) dropped 62.1 percent year-on-year to 2.47 billion patacas (US$309 million) last month, the lowest since September 2020, according to figures announced by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) this morning. 

According to DICJ data, local casinos' GGR amounted to 2.21 billion patacas in September 2020. 

Month-on-month, GGR was down by 25.8 percent in June. 

In the first half of the year, GGR fell 46.4 percent to 26.27 billion patacas. 

Macau has been affected since June 18 by its worst COVID-19 outbreak since early 2020. 

Macau confirmed its first novel coronavirus case on January 22, 2020. 

Unlike Macau's other entertainment venues, its about three dozen casinos have stayed open during the current outbreak. However, Macau's visitor numbers have been reduced to a trickle since the latest outbreak. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the gaming sector generated over half of Macau's gross domestic product (GDP) and employed around one-fifth of the local workforce. 

Baccarat is the most popular game of chance of Macau's casinos that are run by six rival operators.