Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) in February 2017 surged by as much as 17.8 percent, beating investment analyst expectations.

Data from city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau shows that Macau posted a solid MOP22.99 billion (US$2.88 billion) GGR in February – the highest since January 2015, when the aggregate for such revenue was MOP23.84 billion (US$2.98 billion).

On the other hand, Macau’s GGR tally in the first two months of the year expanded by 10.6 percent to MOP42.25 billion (US$5.28 billion). The positive February data also extends Macau gaming industry’s recovery to a sixth month as the Chinese gambling hub continues its efforts to reinvent itself.

Most investment analysts, who relied on unofficial industry returns in gauging the GGR, estimated that Macau’s February GGR will be in between 5 percent and 9 percent.