Macau obtained $45bn in gambling revenue in 2013, 18.6 per cent more than in 2012.
Macau, which earns seven times more than Las Vegas, has seen revenue soar in recent years thanks to its proximity to vast numbers of increasingly wealthy Chinese gamblers attracted by huge resorts such as Venetian Macao and Galaxy Macau.
Improved access to the region boosted revenue last year from China's growing middle class, offsetting slowing VIP growth brought about in part by the government in Beijing's campaign against conspicuous spending by public officers.
In December, revenue grew 18.5 per cent from a year earlier to $4.19bn, thanks to a rise in holiday-season visitors. That compared with the 13 to 17 per cent estimates of six analysts.
Those analysts see 2014 growth of 10 per cent to 14 per cent, partly because there will not be any new casino openings until 2015, meaning there will be no new gaming capacity or additional hotel rooms to keep pace with growth.
Projects under construction are subject to a new ruling whereby the local government allocates gaming tables based on the inclusion of non-gaming features. The former Portuguese colony is trying to diversify its sources of revenue, over 80 per cent of which comes from the gambling industry.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn is building a $4bn resort featuring an artificial lake and dancing fountains like the Bellagio in Las Vegas. US billionaire Sheldon Adelson of Sands China is building a miniature Eiffel Tower dubbed the Parisian which will have a mall and convention space.
