Hong Kong  - Casinos in the southern Chinese resort of Macau brought in a record 1.41 billion US dollars in August, the highest monthly amount ever, according to official data released Thursday.

The record takings were 17 per cent higher than in the same month last year and triple the monthly average of 470 million US dollars raked in by casinos on the Las Vegas Strip over the past year.

The surge in earnings signalled a turnaround in the fortunes of Macau casinos, which recorded a 12-per-cent decline in revenue in the first six months of the year.

Crowds of gamblers from mainland China appeared to be flocking back to the densely populated former Portuguese colony after a year in which border restrictions have limited casino earnings.

Gambling revenue dropped sharply after China limited the number of visits mainland Chinese visitors can make to the city, which has a border and maintains semi-autonomous status.

Before that, takings had boomed from 2003 onward after Las Vegas operators were allowed to open casino resorts such as the Wynn Macau, Sands and The Venetian in the city of 500,000. (dpa)