Macao gambling revenues soar

2007-07-17 11:09:42

Annual casino revenues in Macao – the only place in China where casino gambling is legal – climbed to 50 per cent in June, new figures have shown.

According to the local Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, revenues amounted to a record 19.57 billion patacas ($2.45 billion) in the second quarter of the year.

Revenues from VIP baccarat, a favourite for high-rollers, totaled 13.21 billion patacas – a 58 per cent on the same period last year.

Macau, a former Portuguese colonial enclave, is located about 60 km west of Hong Kong.

Last month, Playboy Enterprises announced that it plans to build a casino resort in Macao, which will be run by Melco PBL, one of the enclave's six licensed gaming companies.