Macau Casinos         

Gambling Macau-style has changed dramatically in the past few years. Apart from the casinos present, 30 las vegas style are being planned. By the year 2009, Macau Casinos are expected to generate more than US$5 billion annually - which is more than Las Vegas.

When Macau returned to China, all the casinos took only $1 billion. Since that time, gaming receipts had reached $2.7 billion by June 2004, according to government figures. This is almost equal to the $3.4 billion taken in all of 2003. Economists expects the 2004 year-end figure to be US$5.2 billion. The gaming industry currently pays 37 percent of takings in tax.

It's estimated that almost 80 percent of the $373 million taken in June 2004 by the largest and oldest casino operator: Stanley Ho's SJM. Most of these came from high rollers of Macau Casino's VIP rooms.

On a 100,000 sqm area called the Cotai strip, is leading a development that by 2009 will house roughly 25 Las Vegas style resorts and casinos. One of the most impressive will be the $1 billion Venetian Macau. When it is complete by 2009, the Cotai strip will provide some 30,000 hotel rooms -- 4,500 at the Venetian alone -- about 1,000 gaming tables and at least 30,480m2 of convention space

As in Vegas, Foreign visitors must be over 18 years old (local residents must be over 21) in order to enter into the casino. Macau casinos also enforce a strict dress code: male guests are prohibited from casual clothing like wearing shorts, sandals or slippers. Weapons, cameras, bags are also strictly prohibited.