Top Chinese Casinos: Macau and Hong Kong Gambling Scene

Filed in archive Did you know on January 11, 2010

© xiquinhosilva


Gambling in Macau has been around probably since the invention of the chop sticks, but it became legal under the Portuguese in the 1850. Portugal promoted it as the "Monte Carlo of the Orient."

Most people don't know that only Chinese games were played until the 20th Century. But Western-style casinos were finally introduced in the late 1930's, and sports betting was not far behind. While gambling is also around in Hong Kong and doesn't look much different, ni Macau gambling is about half of the local economy and government revenue.

Macau has 28 casinos (the biggest is the The Venetian) and they all function as government franchises, and under a shared set of rules. So the gambling experience from one casino to the next isn't much different.