Macau: The New Capital of the Gambling World

Macau, the Asian Las Vegas as this region of China is often called, is becoming a truly iconic place for many gamblers. This is not surprising, since today about 45% of the world's gambling profits come from several dozen casinos operating in the area. In dollars, this is approximately 65 billion. In just 20 years, Macau has transformed from a backwater town into the gambling capital of Asia.

Macau in Brief

For almost 450 years (1557-1999), this province was a colony of Portugal. In the mid-19th century, gambling was partially legalized here and the number of visitors immediately increased, since there were no casinos in Europe yet, and only underground gambling establishments operated. Today, gambling services are prohibited throughout China. The only exceptions are two areas - Macau and Hong Kong. At the same time, full-fledged casinos are open only in the former Portuguese colony, and in Hong Kong, only national games such as Mahjong and bookmakers are allowed.

Although gambling has been legal in Macau for over 150 years, the Asian Las Vegas only began to actively develop a couple of decades ago. Stanley Ho, a billionaire born in Hong Kong, is today considered the founder of the modern gambling industry in this region of Southeast Asia. Of the 40 modern casinos operating in Macau in 2020, his company SJM Holdings, which is the main holding company of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM), owns 19 gambling establishments. At the time of his death (May 2020), Stanley Ho's fortune was estimated at $ 2.5 billion. At the beginning of the 21st century, the billionaire had to make room, as other famous investors came to Macau: Sheldon Adelson (owner of the famous Las Vegas Sands corporation) and Steve Wynn (founder of Wynn Resorts).

Today, Macau casinos pay taxes to the PRC budget. According to experts, in 2019 alone, the region's gambling industry contributed almost $12 billion to Macau's budget, and the total amount of deductions, including taxes from numerous hotels, restaurants, and clubs, amounted to almost $30 billion.

Rules of stay in Macau casinos

Naturally, different establishments have their own rules, but we must not forget that Macau has been China for 20 years, which means that all gambling establishments have general rules of conduct that cannot be violated. For example:

  1. Chinese casinos don't offer the same amount of alcohol as Las Vegas, although some foreign-owned clubs may offer free beer to guests.
  2. A large security service is responsible for the safety of visitors and employees of the casino. Modern security and control methods are used here, including artificial intelligence, facial recognition systems, etc.
  3. Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited in the casino. You cannot take photos of the screen of a slot machine or roulette table, even with a smartphone.
  4. Previously, smoking was strictly prohibited in Macau casinos. In 2019, smoking rooms were allowed in gambling establishments.

Modern realities have not bypassed Asian Las Vegas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Macau casinos were closed for two weeks in February 2020. Later, they were reopened, but visitors and employees of gambling establishments are now allowed into gambling establishments only in medical masks.

The Most Famous Casinos in Macau

Most modern gambling establishments in Macau are huge complexes with casinos, hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. Luxurious interiors can impress even very rich tourists. The entertainment industry in this region of China has reached incredible heights. Among the most popular and luxurious complexes in Macau are the following:

  1. Wynn Macau. Steve Wynn, who became famous in Las Vegas after opening several casinos, built a large complex, which consists of two hotels and a casino, several restaurants, etc. Guest service in Wynn's establishments is at the highest level.
  2. The Venetian Macao. This is the most famous complex in Macau. It occupies a huge area, which recreates the real Italian Venice, with its famous squares, canals and gondolas. The complex includes the largest casino in the world. There are about 1,000 tables and almost 3,500 slot machines.
  3. City of Dreams. A complex consisting of four large hotels, three casinos, several theaters and concert halls. The most famous club in China, Cubic, is also located here.
  4. Grand Lisbon Casino. A very famous casino, the building of which looks like a flower. It became popular only after the reconstruction, which turned an ordinary skyscraper into an original building.
  5. The Sands Macau. There are special conditions for high rollers here, which attract many wealthy guests. It is one of the few casinos in Macau that operates in the Las Vegas style.

Today, it is safe to say that the gambling capital of the world has moved from Las Vegas to Macau. The area continues to develop very quickly and is becoming more and more vibrant.

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