Macau casinos post 22 per cent revenue gain in March

[HONG KONG] Gambling revenue in the Chinese territory of Macau posted a 22 per cent gain for the month of March, due to sustained demand for gambling in the country's only legal casino hub.

This is the 20th consecutive month of gains, cementing a roaring recovery in the former Portuguese colony, after revenues plunged to five-year lows due to slowing economic growth and a widespread crackdown on corruption starting in 2014.

Figures from Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination bureau on Sunday showed revenues rose 22.2 per cent to 26 billion patacas (S$4.2 billion) versus analyst expectations of 13 per cent to 18 per cent growth.

However, revenues still remain far off the highs reached in 2014, hovering only around monthly tolls seen in 2012, data from Thomson Reuters Datastream showed.

REUTERS