Casino revenues in Macau surged by 366% in May compared to the previous year, reaching 15.6 billion patacas ($1.93 billion), the highest since January 2020. The increase was driven by a five-day national holiday that attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region, the only place in China where gambling is legal. China lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in January, allowing visitors to return to Macau after more than three years. The surge in visitors comes as Macau faces a labor shortage and aims to diversify its sources of income beyond the casino industry, which currently contributes over 80% of government revenues. The opening of Sands’ “Londoner” casino resort, attended by former England football captain David Beckham, marked the first major casino opening since the pandemic.