Macau casino operator SJM Holdings started 2018 off on the right foot, posting profits more than one-quarter higher than the year before.

Figures released Wednesday show the Hong Kong-listed SJM’s gaming revenue rising 6.7% year-on-year to HK$8.4b (US$1.07b) in the three months ending March 31. Adjusted earnings improved 17% to HK$987m while profit shot up 25.8% to HK$730m, mainly due to a surge in mass market gaming at SJM’s self-promoted casinos.

The mass market table games segment, which is traditionally more profitable than the junket-led VIP segment, reported revenue rising 9.5% to HK$5.74b. SJM’s average number of mass tables in Q1 rose by 42 to 1,417. Slots revenue was up 14.6% to HK$294m, with the average number of slots in action during Q1 rising by 151 to 2,700.

The VIP segment reported rolling chip turnover rising nearly 13% but VIP win rate slipped 0.39 points to 2.74%, pushing VIP revenue down 1.1% to HK$4.88b. SJM’s average number of VIP tables in Q1 fell by 31 to 284.