Macau casinos roared back to life with a 22-percent increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for March, catching many financial analysts by surprise.

Data from the Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) showed that Macau raked in a MOP25.9 billion (US$3.2 billion) as a result of a sustained demand for gambling in the former Portuguese enclave.

The latest monthly result placed the market’s accumulated 2018 year-on-year growth at 20.5 percent, or MOP76.51 billion (US$9.46 billion). The March GGR also represents a 6.79 percent improvement from the MOP24.30 billion (US$3 billion) registered in February 2018.

The March GGR exceeded the 13-18 percent growth expectations of different brokerage firms and marked the 20th consecutive month of gains for Macau, following 26 months of year-on-year declines.