Malaysian conglomerate Genting said its first quarter earnings more than doubled, underpinned by its gaming, power and plantation operations.

Genting's net profit for the three months to March rose to RM656.66 million from RM307.48 million a year ago, while revenue jumped 65 percent to RM2.03 billion.

The conglomerate said in its results released late Thursday that it also benefited from one-off gains which contributed a total of RM573.9 million to pretax profit of RM1.20 billion.

Genting said its gaming operations in Britain - Stanley Leisure and Maxims Casino - registered strong performances while its Genting Highlands resort in Malaysia saw more visitors and benefited from more favourable gaming factors.

The plantation sector got a boost from strong palm oil prices, the group said, adding that earnings from the power operations rose after acquiring a power plant in China.

The only sector to post lower profit was the oil and gas division.

Genting is controlled by the family of tycoon Lim Goh Tong.

Its crown jewel is the hilltop Genting Highlands casino resort in central Pahang state, which attracts more than 15 million visitors each year.

Genting is expanding its gaming operations overseas, having won a bid to build a casino resort in Singapore while a casino is also planned in Macau.