The Chinese so love gambling that it's often said that if two flies are walking on the wall, the Chinese will bet on which one will walk faster. It's not surprising, therefore, that mainland and Hong Kong Chinese together with Taiwanese make up more than 90% of the 27 million annual visitors to Macau.
In 2002, a 40-year monopoly on gambling ended, paving the way for grander casinos and an upsurge in Las Vegas-style entertainment. The number of casinos quickly grew from 11 in 2002 to about 30 today, approximately half of them owned by foreign investors. Many are located in hotels or large resort complexes. Some are fancy, others aren't, but none allow photographs to be taken, and shorts may not be worn. Admission is free, but you may be required to show a passport to enter. All are open 24 hours.
Macau's casinos offer a wide range of games, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette, boule, "big and small," fan-tan, and slot machines (known, appropriately enough, as "hungry tigers"), designed mostly for the Asian market. If you're interested in seeing the largest casino in the world, head to the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on Cotai (tel. 853/2882 8888; www.venetianmacao.com), a 50,725-sq.-m (546,000-sq.-ft.) space with more than 3,400 slot machines and 800 table games. More centrally located is the MGM Grand Macau, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-sen (tel. 853/8802 8888; www.mgmgrandmacau.com), with 386 table games and 1,000 slot machines. Nearby, the Wynn Macau, Rua Cidade de Sintra (tel. 853/2888 9966; www.wynnmacau.com), attracts crowds not only to its casinos but also its two attractions, Performance Lake with its choreographed dancing fountains and the Tree of Prosperity, which rises from the ground to the accompaniment of dazzling lights and music. Here also is the Grand Lisboa, Avenida de Lisboa (tel. 853/2828 3838; www.grandlisboa.com), the first to add Texas Hold'em in its casino. Other hotels with casinos include the Mandarin Oriental, Holiday Inn, Hotel Lisboa, Starworld, and Crown, with many more slated to open over the next few years.
