Casino gaming is a popular choice among Chinese players that appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the fun of the game and the chance to win cash prizes. While the communist party outlawed gambling in China in 1949, there are hugely popular state-run lotteries and administrative areas in which gambling is legal.
The coastal peninsula not only has a thriving casino scene, but it also allows online casinos to operate. Casino fans in Macau can enjoy all the fun of traditional games on sites such as 777 Casino if they want to enjoy a little downtime between casino trips but don’t want to miss out on any of the fun.
The casino economy in China
Macau is famously a region of China in which gambling is legal, and fans flock to the area to play their favourite games legitimately. Fans of traditional casinos may not be able to play in their hometowns, but in Macau, there are thirty-six casinos to choose from.
Since the official handover of Macau from Portugal to China, the casino industry in Macau has made a major contribution to the region’s economy. Without the natural resources to produce much in the way of goods, Macau is dependent on mainland China for most of its fuel, food, and water.
However, the service industry is alive and well in Macau, and the casino industry naturally generates demand for many other subsidiary businesses, especially in areas where casino tourism is popular. When tourists come to play at the casinos, the other businesses around the casinos can thrive on the passing trade.
As home to some of the largest, most elaborate and opulent casinos in the world, Macau is a popular destination for the richest tourists, including celebrities, business executives, professional gamblers, sporting stars, and other well-heeled players. By catering to the richest visitors, Macau has earned a reputation as the place to go for gamers that want to live the high life.
The most famous casinos in Macau
With the casino industry predicted to grow in China over the coming years, the casinos in Macau really reflect the luxury that the resort is known for. Some of the most famous casinos include:
The Venetian Macau – this vast casino is the second largest in the world (after the Casino Campiogni in Italy) at 546,000 square feet. It is the tenth largest building in the world and the largest single-structure hotel in Asia and it includes a 15,000-seat arena, a hotel, an exclusive gaming club, a theatre, and retail space.
The Wynn Palace – located in Cotai, this resort is the fourth biggest casino in the world with a 28-storey hotel, thirteen restaurants, the largest spa in Macau, and 424,000 square feet of casino space. Guests can also enjoy the music and light show on the 8-acre ‘performance lake’, award-winning floral displays, and some of the most famous works from the world’s leading artists.
City of Dreams – as the fifth largest casino in the world, the City of Dreams is located directly opposite the Venetian. There are four hotels, four spas, more than thirty restaurants, and a water theatre in this resort that is known as a ‘leading leisure destination’.
The benefits of the casino economy to Macau
The gambling industry in Macau is so popular with global travellers that it generates enough income for a number of society-wide changes. These include a social welfare initiative that made provision for fifteen years of free education to every citizen in Macau.
However, Macau’s economic security does rely heavily on maintaining good relationships with China. In the past, when things have become politically volatile, it has caused significant downturns in the economy.
Macau’s popularity as a destination for Chinese casino fans is a major contributor to the economy, so when an anti-corruption campaign had an impact on the Chinese economy, the knock-on effects were felt in Macau as well.
The casino industry in China
As it stands, while it is possible to gamble legally in China, the regulations limit the options pretty significantly which means that casino fans often travel to Macau when they want some action outside the government-syndicated lotteries. Anything that has an impact on these players’ ability or willingness to travel can have a huge impact on the economy of Macau as well.
There are other areas of China that benefit from the casino industry, mostly along the borders where travellers can easily access casinos in other countries. Reports suggest that towns on both the Cambodian and Laotian borders welcome visitors from China and have casinos as close to China as possible to attract travellers from China.
As one of the largest economies in the world, the economic stability of China has the potential to impact countries all over the globe. The contribution made by the casino industry cannot be overlooked and the opportunity to generate an income from online casinos may encourage the government to relax gaming legislation further.
