PHNOM PENH, Oct. 18 (FN) -- Thanks to improved collection efforts, Cambodia collected a total of 37.4 million U.S. dollars in taxes from casinos in the first nine months of 2016, up 35.5 percent over the same period last year, said a finance ministry report on Tuesday.

The notable rise in tax collection came after the government launched last year a new strategy to boost revenue by improving the transparency, efficiency and equity of the tax system and monitoring tax collection more closely.

According to the report, currently, some 69 casinos have been operating in this Southeast Asian country.

NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh accounted for about 16 million U.S. dollars, or 43 percent, of all casino tax collection during the January-September period this year, it said.

The country grants licenses to casinos in a bid to help attract foreign tourists. Under the kingdom's law, only foreigners are allowed to gamble in casinos.