Casinos in Macau

Macau is a 'special administrative region' which lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta in South China, close to Hong Kong. Primarily, Macau's economy builds upon the gambling industry. As a result of this there is no longer an existing monopoly within the gaming industry, the competition between between companies is more fierce than ever. Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the US, Monte Carlo is the gambling capital of Europe and similarly Macau is the gambling capital of Asia.

History of Macau

In 1557 Macau was founded as a Portuguese colony, but Macau lost this status in 1842 when Hong Kong was built nearby. China and Portugal started to establish diplomatic relations after the Portuguese Revolution in 1974. Because of this, the status of Macau was negotiated. Macau became a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration in 1979, but later Macau was handed over to China. This happened in December 1999.

Macau Today

Today the casino industry makes up almost half of the salaries in Macau. The abolishment of the monopoly in 2001 has made Macau into an incredibly attractive market for foreign parties.

The Government has been led by Chief Executive Edmund Ho who was re-elected in 2004 for another term. He has observed the extreme changes in Macau over the past ten years as Macau quickly has and still is turning into Asia's very own Las Vegas.

Gambling and other Activities

There are casinos everywhere in Macau. Half of the area's ecenomy has some connection to the gaming industry. What separates Macau from Las Vegas is the fact that there are a lot less slot machines in Macau. Gamblers in Macau simply prefer baccarat!

However, there is plenty of entertainment on offer to players in Macau that has nothing to do with gambling at all. Macau is the meeting point of Chinese and Portuguese culture. Thanks to more than 400 years of religious traditions, Macau has become a very rich area in terms of its culture. Tourists are not only drawn to the area because of its casinos. They travel to Macau to take part in the Grand Prix, Macau Arts Festival, International Fireworks Display Contest, International Music Festival and International Marathon. These events are neatly spread out over the course of the year. The most important festival is the Chinese New Year which occurs at the end of January or beginning of February.

The food in Macau is reason enough for tourists to visit Macau. Visitors are spoiled with a huge selection of Cantonese and Portuguese dishes. If you have not yet treated your taste buds to this spicy and delicious food, it's about time to go to Macau!

Should I visit Macau?

You might not be sure whether you should visit Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Macao or Atlantic City first. It is probably worthwhile to do some research into each city before you book your flight and travel. Every city or area offers the tourist a unique experience and you should really select the one that suits your own needs and interests.

Of all of these cities, Macau is the one that you visit to get to experience a completely different culture, to eat delicious food and to hop from casino to casino. If you visit Las Vegas, you are more than likely to stay in the same hotel during your entire stay. In Monte Carlo you will probably spend a lot of time enjoying the weather and scenery. In Macau you will be out on the tiles every night, looking for new casinos. Macau offers visitors the largest selection of casinos, even though the focus is not really on slots (as it is in Las Vegas). In short - you know what you like best!

You will be guaranteed an unforgettable trip if you visit Macau, but you should certainly do your research on which of the big gambling cities you should invest your money in first!