TDM television, a Portuguese language broadcaster recently released information about a new study conducted by a researcher from the University of Macau (UM) that analyzed Macau’s casino industry. The study looks how things have changed in the biggest gambling hub in the world since 2013 and provides some interesting insights into the gaming habits of Macau’s gamblers.

The study was commissioned by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and a total of 2,000 residents were asked a series of questions via a telephonic discussion. The study showed that the average monthly spending on gaming at Macau’s casinos since 2013 has gone up by 110 percent. Macau residents reportedly spend around MOP 1,000 per month on gaming activities and around MOP 880 on a monthly basis on general gaming activities, which was an increase of around 60 percent.

However the number of residents who participate in casino gaming dropped to 49.5 percent in 2013 when compared to a 67.9 percent participation in casino gambling when the industry was first legalized in 2002. Based on the 2,000 residents surveyed, 51.5 percent of them admitted that they enjoyed gambling. This was a 2 percent increase when compared to the last gaming study which was carried out in 2013. The study also showed that the males in the age group of 25 – 34 years of age were the largest percentage of gamblers that visited Macau’s casinos.

Most residents admitted that the number one reason they visited the casinos was to see if they can win some money, while a smaller percentage said they visited the casinos to have fun and take part in non-gaming entertainment activities. Out of those surveyed, 50 percent stated that they enjoyed betting on horse racing, 60.1 percent admitted to enjoying betting on casino games and 81.9 percent stated they enjoyed betting and playing the lotto.

The report showed that males between the ages of 55 – 64 years of age who had a secondary level education or below and worked in shifts were the ones who most enjoyed gambling at the casinos. Males between the ages of 25 and 34 who were working professionals enjoyed wagering on slot machines or sports betting. The levels of problem gambling amongst the 2,000 residents surveyed was around 2.5 percent as only 10 respondents showed any signs of having a serious problem with gambling at the casinos.

However the survey did show that less than 40 percent of the respondents knew and understood what problem gambling was all about although the majority of them did admit to recognizing rehabilitation centers spread across Macau. The IAS took note of the survey results and stated that it will focus on increasing educating related to problem gambling and gambling advertising in an effort to reduce the impact of problem gambling on Macau’s residents.