** Macau gaming stocks fall after the enclave government warns the gambling hub could face a budget deficit
** Shares of Melco International 0200.HK lead slide in the sector, falling 3.4% to HK$3.37 in their biggest one-day pct drop since April 7
** Sands China 1928.HK falls 2.7%, Wynn Macau 1128.HK declines 2.2%, MGM China 2282.HK eases 2%
** SJM 0880.H and Galaxy Entertainment 0027.HK slip 1.4% and 0.9% respectively
** Macau's Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai told local legislators that the enclave risks slipping into a budget deficit if gambling revenues in the world's biggest gambling hub drop below 15 bln patacas ($1.88 bln) a month after they fell short of government forecasts in the first quarter
** Macau's first-quarter gaming revenue rose 0.6% year-on-year to 57.7 bln patacas, or 19.2 bln patacas per month, versus the government's full-year forecast of 240 bln patacas, or 20 bln patacas per month
** Beijing and Macau authorities have mandated that the six licensed casino operators Sands China, Wynn Macau, SJM, MGM China, Galaxy, and Melco Resorts MPEL.O diversify their revenue base away from the casino industry
($1 = 7.9900 patacas)
(Reporting by Donny Kwok)
((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com))
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