Macao's gambling revenue jumped 13.5 percent to a record $38 billion in 2012, official figures showed Wednesday, despite the pace of growth in the world's largest gaming hub slowing from a year earlier.

Gaming revenue rose to 304.14 billion patacas ($38 billion) from 267.87 billion patacas in 2011, according to statistics posted on the official Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau website.

But the pace of growth slowed from 2011, when revenues surged 42 percent year-on-year to $33.47 billion, as China's economy slowed and affected the Chinese mainland high-rollers who flock to the gaming tables in Macao.

Despite that, analysts said Macao's better-than-expected December gaming revenue - which increased by 19.6 percent year-on-year to 28.24 billion patacas - suggested a rebound was in sight.

This compared to 3.2 percent year-on-year growth in October and 7.9 percent in November

"The strong December (performance) represents a recovery in gaming revenue growth," said Aaron Fischer, head of consumer and gaming research at brokerage CLSA.

Fischer said the brokerage had forecast revenue would continue to grow at a moderate 9.0 percent in 2013.

"However, with initial signs of macroeconomic recovery in China, infrastructure improvements and a more stable political environment, our current gaming revenue estimate might appear to be on the conservative side."