Number of casinos in Macao 2009-2019
Macao, the world’s casino capital, had 41 casinos as of 2019. In 2019, the city generated gross revenue of 36.7 billion U.S. dollars from gaming and gambling. As the only part of China where gambling is legal, Macao owns some of the world’s largest and most fabulous casinos operated by multinational casino companies and is economically quite dependent on its gambling industry.
Casino operators
There are six licensed casino operators in Macao including Sands China, SJM Holdings, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM China Holdings and Melco Crown Entertainment. They have been focused on the development of large casino resort complexes over the recent years. The largest casino complex in Macao is operated by Sands China, which belongs to Las Vegas Sands. Modeled on its sister casino The Venetian Las Vegas, the Venetian Macao has a total floor area of around 980,000 square meters with 640 gaming tables and 1,760 slot machines. In terms of its territory, Macao has the highest density of casino complexes.
Transformation of casinos
After reaching its revenue peak in 2013, the gambling industry in Macao faced tough times since the Beijing government strengthened its anti-corruption campaign. Macao’s casinos used to focus on high-spending customers and generate great profits from their VIP rooms where only high-stake games are played that require large amounts of bets. This also made Macao’s casinos a destination for international money laundering and other financial offences. To avoid scrutiny from mainland government, many of the VIPs from mainland China might change their casino destination, while they probably gamble with the proceeds of corruption or other financial offences. To continue Macao’s economic success, casinos in Macao are encouraged to develop more entertainment for leisure tourists and better environment for mass market gamblers as a vacation destination. Today, an increasing number of tourists go to Macao not only for gambling, but also for shopping and other leisure activities.
Casino operators
There are six licensed casino operators in Macao including Sands China, SJM Holdings, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM China Holdings and Melco Crown Entertainment. They have been focused on the development of large casino resort complexes over the recent years. The largest casino complex in Macao is operated by Sands China, which belongs to Las Vegas Sands. Modeled on its sister casino The Venetian Las Vegas, the Venetian Macao has a total floor area of around 980,000 square meters with 640 gaming tables and 1,760 slot machines. In terms of its territory, Macao has the highest density of casino complexes.
Transformation of casinos
After reaching its revenue peak in 2013, the gambling industry in Macao faced tough times since the Beijing government strengthened its anti-corruption campaign. Macao’s casinos used to focus on high-spending customers and generate great profits from their VIP rooms where only high-stake games are played that require large amounts of bets. This also made Macao’s casinos a destination for international money laundering and other financial offences. To avoid scrutiny from mainland government, many of the VIPs from mainland China might change their casino destination, while they probably gamble with the proceeds of corruption or other financial offences. To continue Macao’s economic success, casinos in Macao are encouraged to develop more entertainment for leisure tourists and better environment for mass market gamblers as a vacation destination. Today, an increasing number of tourists go to Macao not only for gambling, but also for shopping and other leisure activities.
