Macau: Greater Casino Turnover Than Las Vegas

Macau, the special administrative area on the south coast of the People’s Republic of China, has overtaken Las Vegas: according to the most recent figures from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the gambling income of the once Portuguese, now Chinese city, amounts to around 6.95 billion US dollars. This corresponds to an increase of 22% over the previous year. According to media reports, an estimated 6.6 billion dollars crossed the gaming tables of Las Vegas. Since innumerable casino operators discovered Macau, bordering the Chinese boom region of Guangdong, it has grown at an incredible rate and is becoming the world’s leading gambling destination. There seems to be no end in sight to this upward growth. Macau can already claim the world’s largest casino, alongside “Sands”. The “Venetian Macau” - larger than the Las Vegas original - is set to open its doors in mid-2007. Further billions are being invested in hotels, casinos and entertainment facilities. One example is the gigantic “City of Dreams”, a mega complex with the world’s first underwater casino. With 21.99 million visitors in 2006 - a 17.57 % increase over the previous year, Macau has broken yet another record. (eap)