Improved gaming revenues from newly opened casinos will propel Macau’s 2017 gross domestic product by 2.5 percent.

This was the prediction of international credit debt watcher Fitch Ratings Inc. as it affirmed Macau’s AA- rating, with a stable outlook. It said that the new casino openings will bolster Macau’s gaming revenue by 6 percent this year.

In affirming its rating, Fitch pointed out that their outlook for Macau is “underpinned by the territory’s credible policy framework and exceptionally strong public and external finances, which continue to strengthen despite three consecutive years of economic contraction.”

Official data shows that Macau’s market-wide casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) expanded by 10.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 – the best quarterly performance that the Asia’s premier gambling hub has seen since 2014.