How Macau Became a Tourist and Gaming Hotspot

Macau is part of the sovereign state of China and with a population of over 700,000 people, it is the most densely populated region on the planet. Despite the fact the city centre includes a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Macau has become famous for gambling and the gambling industry in Macau is much larger than Las Vegas.

Recent History of Macau

Macau returned to Chinese rule in 1999 but it is not like other parts of China because it is a special administrative region. That means not all the laws in Macau match that of other parts of Greater China, including China and Hong Kong. One of the big differences in law is in terms of gambling and Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal. The basis of gambling in Macau centred round VIP tables and rooms. The rooms hosted high stakes games in private and the focus was on big spending customers, who wanted to place huge wagers on casino games. High spenders enjoyed special privileges and the Macau casino industry was built around the VIP rooms.

How Macau Surpassed Las Vegas

There are many places and ways to gamble, with Las Vegas being the first place many people think of when considering a gambling weekend. We have witnessed the rise of online gambling and the opportunity to use a casino with no verification thanks to the blockchain. So, what is it about Macau that has made it a tourist and gaming hotspot?

As mentioned above, Macau attracts Chinese high rollers and that means individuals are spending big money on VIP games. Wealthy gamblers often spend millions in one session whereas Las Vegas attracts a mix of tourists and casual gamblers, who are not spending as much money. Macau has seen a rise in the number of tourists visiting the region but it still does not compare to Las Vegas.

The location of Macau, close to the Chinese mainland, where gambling is illegal, means it draws millions of gamblers. Chinese people have disposal income they want to spend on gambling but no where else to do it than Macau. In the United States, there are many casinos across the country where people can gamble legally, they do not have to travel to Las Vegas.

With the gaming industry booming in Macau, the administrators took steps to build on the popularity of the region by connecting it to Hong Kong via the construction of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. It is the longest sea bridge in the world and has reduced the travel time between Hong Kong and Macau to 30 minutes.

The Future of Macau

Macau is fast becoming known as the gambling capital of the world but faces some challenges. The VIP sector has been showing signs of slowing down thanks to tighter restrictions imposed by the government. Macau is mostly dependent on gambling for its revenue and may need to diversify from gaming to bring in more money, with live entertainment, shopping, and theme parks all an option.