Gross gaming and gambling revenues in Macau totalled 171.4 billion patacas (US$21.4 billion) in the first half of 2013, representing a year-on-year rise of 15.3 percent, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (GICB) said.

In accumulated terms the percentage variations have been increasing since the beginning of the year. In January the rise was 7.3 percent, in February 9.4 percent and in the following three months the rise varied between 14 and 15 percent before exceeding 15 percent in June.

In June alone, gamblers left 28.3 billion patacas (US$3.534 billion) in the casinos, which represented growth of 21.1 percent against the same month of 2012.

In monthly terms growth rates have seen greater variations, ranging from a minimum of 7.3 percent in January and a maximum of 25.4 percent in March.

At the end of the first quarter of 2013 there were 35 casinos in Macau, 20 of which were owned by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, three by Venetian Macau, five by Galaxy Casino, three by Melco/PBL Jogos (Macau) and one each by Wynn Resorts and MGM Grand Paradise, with a total of 5,749 tables and 16,406 slot machines. (macauhub)