Genting Singapore improved its VIP gambling segment market share during the fourth quarter, which is setting the stage for further growth throughout the current year. This is per analysts with the Sanford C. Bernstein brokerage, who reviewed Genting’s results after they were released by the company yesterday.

According to Bernstein, “We expect Genting Singapore to gain share quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year in VIP…” It adds that this has been “driven by credit extension” to players.

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) for Genting’s VIP market, fueled by the company’s Resorts World Sentosa resort, reached $173.16 million last quarter. This represents a 4% decline over the previous quarter, but a 17% increase over the same period a year earlier.

Bernstein analysts Vitaly Umansky, Eunice Lee and Kelsey Zhu add that the growth could be attributed to easier access to credit by players. They also stated that the amount of money listed under Genting’s “accounts receivable” column had expanded by 27% from the second quarter of the year to the third, adding, “We will pay close attention to see if the trend continues in the fourth quarter,” and will also monitor “the impact on rolling chip volume and bad debt expense.”