MACAO -- Macao's gaming industry revenue increased by 36.4 percent year-on-year to 26.26 billion patacas (about $3.26 billion) in January 2018, the special administrative region's gaming industry watchdog said on Friday.

Macao's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said in its latest report that the first month of 2018 saw a significant increase with highest year-on-year growth rate since March 2014, the 18th monthly rebound year-on-year in gaming revenue since August 2016.

Macao's monthly gaming revenue registered a 1.1-percent year-on-year rise in August 2016, ending a 26-month slump of the industry. Since then the monthly revenue has kept recording year-on-year growth as of January 2018.