Macau second-quarter gambling revenue rises 50% on year

Macau's casino gambling revenue in the second quarter rose 50% to MOP19.57 billion (US$2.45 billion) from MOP13.03 billion in the year-earlier period, the Chinese territory's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said Monday.

The city's casino gambling revenue for the first half rose 47.5% to MOP37.97 billion from MOP25.75 billion in the same period last year, the casino regulator of the former Portuguese enclave said.

The regulator didn't elaborate on the figures it disclosed on its Web site, but analysts said earlier they expected new casinos and a rise in the number of tourists from mainland China to Macau would boost casino gambling revenue.

Macau is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal.

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau SA, one of Macau's six casino operators and controlled by casino magnate Stanley Ho, opened the Grand Lisboa casino and hotel in February.

Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau) Ltd. opened its first casino-hotel in the city, Crown Macau, in mid-May.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. also operate casinos in Macau.