Casino revenue in Macau climbed 13.5% last year to a record $38 billion, as the Asian gambling hub reinforced its position as the world's biggest gambling market.
Gross revenue from Macau's 35 casinos also hit a monthly record in December, rising 20% to 28.2 billion Macau patacas
($3.5 billion), according to data posted on the gaming regulator's website on Wednesday.
But gambling revenue growth eased off in 2012 from the year before, when it rocketed 42% to $33.5 billion, as China's economy slowed and wealthy mainland Chinese gamblers held back amid fears about a crackdown on corruption. 
Chinese gamblers account for the bulk of visitors to Macau. The semiautonomous region, an hour by ferry west of Hong Kong, is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal.