Galaxy Entertainment Group has climbed to the forefront of Macau’s premium mass casino segment, according to Citigroup’s July 2025 table survey. The operator now commands an estimated 35% share of all premium mass wagers observed, thanks in part to high-stakes action at the Pavilion North gaming area inside Galaxy Macau. Analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau noted that 12 of the 35 identified “whales” were seen playing at Galaxy’s venues, including one player placing a HK$1 million bet—marking the fourth consecutive month such a high wager has been recorded.

The analysts attributed much of this momentum to Capella at Galaxy Macau, the newly launched ultra-luxury hotel that appears to be drawing a wealthier clientele. “On our count, Galaxy has leapt to the pole position in our survey with a 35% share in total premium mass wager observed, likely reflecting Capella’s success in appealing to whales,” they stated, Inside Asian Gaming reports.

Sands China responds with new progressive jackpot offering

Sands China followed closely behind, capturing a 25% share of the premium mass segment during the same period. This uptick was likely aided by increased visitation during Sandy Lam’s concert at The Venetian Arena and the debut of a new progressive jackpot tied to baccarat side bets.

The jackpot spans Sands’ baccarat operations and applies to Lucky 6 and Lucky 7 bets. To qualify, players must place a side wager of HK$500 in the general mass areas or HK$2,000 in premium mass rooms. The top prize—over HK$5 million—is awarded when a Player wins with a seven beating a Banker’s six, with both hands of the same suit.

“The more side bet wagers Sands gets, the higher its market share could reach, given the significantly higher house advantage from side bets,” Choi and Chau wrote. They also noted the potential for rival casinos to introduce similar offerings, which could diminish Sands’ early mover advantage.

Premium mass growth holds strong despite typhoon

July’s survey observed total premium mass wagers of HK$16 million, up 32% compared to the same month last year. The number of premium players reached 681—an 18% year-on-year increase—while average wager per player rose 11% to HK$23,536.“In our view, these are solid statistics,” the Citi analysts commented, particularly in light of Typhoon Wipha, which brought heavy rainfall and temporarily shut down public transportation and cross-border links.

Even with the No. 8 and later No. 10 typhoon signals activated over the weekend, gaming activity remained robust. By Sunday evening, as conditions improved, Macau reinstated public transport under a No. 3 signal.

Another development of note was the widespread adoption of smart gaming tables at Grand Lisboa Palace, operated by SJM Holdings. These high-tech tables streamline player tracking and enable quick payouts, making side bets more accessible to patrons.

The July survey also saw a spike in the number of high-value gamblers across Macau. Citi identified 35 whales—defined as players betting HK$100,000 or more—up from 23 in July 2024. In addition to the HK$1 million player at Galaxy Macau, two individuals placed HK$500,000 wagers at Galaxy Macau and StarWorld’s Horizon, respectively.

The analysts concluded that both Galaxy and Sands have gained significant ground in the premium mass market, with Galaxy benefiting from luxury expansion and Sands leveraging targeted side bet innovation. If Sands’ jackpot strategy continues to resonate with players, it may see a further uptick in volumes—unless, as Citi cautions, “its competitors imitate what Sands China is doing.”