Macau Gambling

(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

Loading...

Do you want to experience the real taste of Asia and at the same time play your favorite games in the world’s best casinos? Then Macau is your must-go destination. And we’re going to tell you why now:

A Few Words About Macau

Macau was originally a Portuguese colony in China. The Portuguese legalized gambling around the 1850s; and since then, it has become the capital of Oriental gambling. It lies on the mainland of China and two small islands; the easiest way of getting there is by ferry from Hong Kong.

This area became a special administrative region of China in 1999, but still preserves its autonomy in certain respects, including gambling. In China, gambling is illegal, while in Macau, it is the largest sector of the economy, contributing about 40% of government tax revenue. As nobody is allowed to gamble in China, the Chinese upper and middle-classes travel to Macau in large numbers, so they can gamble there instead. Stanley Ho, nicknamed also the Godfather of Gambling, invested a lot into the gambling industry of the region. He has built several casinos there, and he is a legendary figure. Many of these casinos are combined with premium quality luxury hotels that attract tourists from all around the world.

Games That Can Be Played in the Region

The games that you can play there are typical casino games, while online-gaming is of course excluded. The target audience is mostly high rollers; the VIP-rooms are there for their comfort! But lately, casino owners are aiming more at getting a larger range of customers; so they have made their casinos more affordable to the wide audience. The casino games available are slot machines, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, sic bo, and keno. Apart from playing at the casinos, you can bet on horse racing, as organized by the Macau Jockey Club; and also on greyhound racing.

7 Best and Biggest Casinos in Macau

The Venetian Macau

This is the king of all casinos! Indeed, this is actually the world’s largest casino and it is even bigger than any of the exciting venues to be found in Vegas. The Venetian Macau is situated on the Cotai Strip. It has a shopping mall, a spacious hotel, hosts night shows, and great restaurants. The casino can boast its own gondoliers that float along the artificial channels. Here you can play a wide range of exciting games including baccarat, blackjack, sic bo, roulette and sands stud poker.

Grand Lisboa

This is one of the newest casinos in the region, but its history dates back to 1970, with the original Casino Lisboa built by Stanley Ho. The building looks like a bouquet of flowers and changes color at night. The casino is placed on 4 floors and comprises 390 gaming tables and 880 slot machines. The games you can play there are baccarat, sic bo, roulette and blackjack.

MGM Macau

This one is located on the Macau mainland, and first opened its doors in 2007. MGM Macau is a resort with many beautiful and intriguing pieces of art on display, and can even boast some incredible Dali sculptures! Also, the casino has an area called Grande Praça which is naturally illuminated through a glass ceiling. The casino games you can play there are craps, poker, three-card poker, baccarat, blackjack, 12 tables, sic bo and roulette.

Wynn Macau

This one is smaller, compared to a lot of other casinos; but it is still really famous, mainly because of the famous high rollers who often play there. Wynn palace can boast a collection of Qing dynasty vases and some unique tapestries that you can find displayed on the walls, alongside myriad other pieces of fascinating artwork. Aside from the luxurious VIP rooms for high rollers, it also has some tables at really affordable prices.

City of Dreams Macau

The casino has a mega-casino hall with 450 game tables and more than 1,500 slot machines, the biggest in the city! It includes 4 hotels: Nüwa, the Countdown hotel, Grand Hyatt Macau and Morpheus. It is situated opposite the Venetian Macau. One of the main attractions is the Aquarium, a video installation, and the Dancing Water Theater, a magnificent show performed on the round stage, is famous for its acrobatics.

The Sands Macau

This is the first casino in Macau to really mimic the style of the classic Las Vegas ones we all know and love so well. It is operated by the Las Vegas Sands. It offers free drinks and is less classy than other casinos; the bets are also smaller, which attracts more clients. It is situated close to the ferry station and makes an excellent destination for a day trip.

The Parisian Macau

The decor and architecture of this plush casino is inspired by traditional French conventions; indeed, it has even a half-scale Eiffel Tower with a panoramic view on top. The Parisian Macau has 400 game tables and 2,500 slot machines and video poker. Here, you can play roulette, baccarat, craps and sic bo. The hotel design has an unmistakably French character, and there is an open-air pool for kids and adults with a theme park.

Rules of the Casinos in Macau

• In local casinos, anyone from 21 years and up can play, and you might be asked for a passport or ID.
• The dress code is stricter than in the US: you shouldn’t wear flip-flops, shorts or sleeveless tops.
• Electronic devices and luggage are also banned, and should be left in the luggage room.
• The only currency allowed at the casinos is the Hong Kong dollar.
• Smoking is not allowed inside of the casinos; but most clients don’t care about it and still smoke at the tables.
• People are less tolerant of heavy drinking here than in Vegas; drink in moderation, or else you may not be allowed to enter the casino a second time.

Top Questions About Gambling in Macau

What is Macau best known for?

The region is best known for its tourism, which is mainly related to the gambling and game industries. It has a rich architectural legacy, deriving from the time it was under Portuguese rule. Luxurious hotels and resorts form part of the touristic infrastructure connected with the casinos.

Is gambling legal in Macau?

Unlike in mainland China, gambling is legal in Macau. Many citizens of China and Hong Kong travel there to play casino games; but online gambling is not allowed either in China or in Macau.

What currency is used in Macau casinos?

The Hong Kong dollar is legal tender, not the country’s own currency – the pataca. The majority of casinos accept only Hong Kong cash.

Which Macau casino is the best?

In this article you can read about the 7 best casinos for you to choose from: The Venetian Macau, Grand Lisboa, MGM Macau, Wynn Macau, City of Dreams Macau, the Sands Macau and the Parisian Macau.