Visitor spending on gaming services rose 13.0% year-on-year in the first three months of 2014, while non-gaming spending rose 6.6%, according to a report released on Monday by Macau's Monetary Authority.
This figure uses the GDP accounting method, which is calculated as a percentage of net service income from service exports.
Initial data from the Game Inspection and Coordination Bureau of Macau casinos showed that Macau casinos' total gaming revenue rose 19.8% over the same period.
In the first quarter, visitor spending in all service export sectors reached 12.1%, achieving double-digit growth, according to financial authorities.
The authority's monetary and financial stability review found that in 2013, all visitor spending using full GDP accounting rose 12.1% from 6.9% in 2012, but visitor numbers grew only 4.4% during this period.
In addition, the general economy grew 11.9% in 2013, up from 9.1% in the previous year.
"Service exports grew at a fast pace, driven by strong growth and high margins in the popular market gaming sector," the authority added in its 2013 figures report
According to the Gaming Bureau, baccarat sales in the popular market were up 38.3% year-over-year in 2013, much faster than the 13.1% increase in the VIP segment. 안전한 카지노사이트
Visitors to mainland China, the biggest source of Macau tourists, rose 15.8% to 8.6 million in the first five months of 2014. Financial authorities said the proportion of mainland tourists arriving on individual visiting visas rose to 44.4% from 42.5% in the same period in 2013.
The authorities also confirmed that as of the end of May, 40% of Macau's employment workforce was non-residents.
"As of the end of May 2014, imported workers stood at 152,299 or about 40.0% of Macau's total employment, up 28.4% year-on-year, as local labour supply shortages became apparent," according to the authority's monetary and financial stability review
In the three months to May 31, the unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point year-on-year to 1.7%, it added.
