State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is enjoying a robust net income in first three months of 2017, 26.9 percent higher than last year’s figures.

Data from PAGCOR, which was made available on their website on Wednesday, showed that the state regulator generated a net income of PHP1.32 billion (US$26.5 million) in January to March 2017 period compared to PHP1.04 billion (US$22.15 million) in the same period last year.

On the other hand, PAGCOR’s total revenue from gaming operations in 2017 rose by 26.7 percent to PHP14.04 billion (US$282 million). In the first quarter of 2016, PAGCOR’s total revenue from gaming operations was at PHP11.08 billion (US$222.82 million).

PAGCOR chair Andrea Domingo attributed the 26.9-percent spike in the state-regulator’s income to the combined effects of an improving market, as well as newly implemented in-house efficiency measures.