Although casino operators such as Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM), and Wynn Resorts were allowed to reopen their Macao resorts in mid-February following a 15-day mandatory closure meant to help stem the spread of COVID-19, few visitors are returning to the only place in China where it's legal to gamble. Casino revenue in Macao plummeted 80% year over year in March. Image source: Getty Images. Macao's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said casinos took in just under 5.3 billion patacas ($664 million) in March, compared to the 25.8 billion patacas in revenue they generated a year prior. (The pataca is Macao's local currency.) Analysts had forecast the territory's gambling revenue would be down some 70% for March. And while the actual result could be viewed as a modest improvement from February, when gambling revenues were 88% lower than in the prior year, casinos were shut down for half of that month. MGM Resorts had previously warned investors that gamblers weren't returning to its resorts. The Macao government has also imposed new restrictions that block all non-Chinese visitors from entering the gambling enclave after two new cases of COVID-19 were reported there following a month without any. For the first quarter, analysts had expected a 35% drop in Macao's gaming revenue, but after March's staggering decline, the quarter's actual result was a plunge of 60% year over year. 10 stocks we like better than MGM Resorts InternationalWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and MGM Resorts International wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of March 18, 2020 Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source