(10-27) 14:11 PDT LAS VEGAS, (AP) --

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Wednesday it earned $168 million during the third quarter on a record $1.91 billion in revenue, with help from strong business in China and a new casino in Singapore.

The company run by billionaire Sheldon Adelson said it earned 21 cents per share for the third quarter, compared with a loss of 19 cents per share, $123 million, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, net income was $265.2 million, 34 cents per share, compared with $20.1 million a year earlier.

The results beat the average expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, who typically exclude one-time items. They predicted revenue of $1.79 billion and earnings of 23 cents per share.

Sands took in $1.08 billion in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau and $485.9 million at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore during that property's first full quarter in operation. Its revenue in Las Vegas was $290.7 million.

Adelson called the Singapore's $241 million in earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization the best first quarter ever for any of Sands' resorts.

Success in Singapore and Macau — where revenue jumped 27.7 percent compared with the same period last year — further pulled Sands' focus toward Asia.

"Simply put, our business overall has never been healthier," Adelson told investors on a conference call.

Sands is based in Sin City, but only 15.2 percent of its revenue during the quarter came from business in Las Vegas.

Casino revenue was up to $1.57 billion compared with $908 million during the third quarter last year. Room revenue was $208 million compared with $155.7 million a year earlier, while convention and retail business rose to $147.2 million compared with $95.6 million.

Sands said it had $3.35 billion in cash as of Sept. 30, with $959.7 million restricted for construction in Macau and Singapore.

Sands said its total debt as of Sept. 30 was $10.14 billion, with $835.9 million due this year and next year.