Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) pulled yet another surprise after it grew by 23.7 percent year-on-year in May.

Data from the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau showed that Macau’s casino GGR jumped to MOP22.74 billion (US$2.83 billion) last month, beating analyst expectations of 16.5 percent.

Macau market’s GGR tally for the first five months of 2017 stood at MOP106.38 billion (US$13.25 billion), up 15.8 percent from the prior-year period.

Grant Govertsen of Union Gaming describes the latest data as “encouraging,” noting that the suprising GGR is yet another proof that the former Portuguese enclave’s recovery is now in full-tilt.