ling revenues in Macau are up 5.5% for August, registering a single-figure year-on-year increase for the second month in a row following a 1.5% rise in July.

The $3.27bn generated in August was the highest of any month this year and also improved on the $3.1bn taken in August 2011.

Analysts had forecasted growth of around 7%-9% for the month, meaning the results came in slightly under expectations.

CIMB Group analyst Michael Ting said: "It doesn't seem to be getting worse, so I think gross gaming revenue growth for the rest of the year will just tread around mid single digits or so.”

Macau’s highest ever monthly revenue was the $3.36bn recorded in October 2011.