Macau boosts gambling revenue 21pc
September's take of 28.9b patacas comes amid efforts to overcome hurdles to increased arrivals
Macau's gambling revenue rose 21.4 per cent year on year last month thanks to robust spending by affluent gamblers.
The government is trying to increase the number of visitors to Macau from 28 million last year with the aim to transform the former Portuguese colony into an international tourism destination.
However, Macau residents and casino executives say it faces acute challenges in handling large numbers of tourists.
Long delays and rising costs have dogged infrastructure developments like a new ferry terminal and an elevated railway and there is no fixed timetable for their opening.
To help ease the visitor flows, Macau's government last month introduced "walking routes" to divert traffic from the city centre, which houses 23 of Macau's 35 casinos.