Gross gaming revenue from all games of fortune in Macau rose 57.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2010, according to official figures released on Monday.
Given that GGR for January and February rose year on year by well over 60 percent, it means that the speed of growth in March actually tailed off–possibly because of measures taken by China’s central government in the first quarter to cool the mainland economy. But VIP baccarat actually increased its contribution to the Macau market in the first quarter compared to a year earlier. It made up 70.2 percent of GGR in Q1 2010, compared to 65 percent of GGR in Q1 2009.
Revenue in Q1 2010 rose to 40.95 billion patacas (USD5.12 billion) from MOP26.02 billion in the equivalent quarter of 2009.