Las Vegas vs Macau: Everything you need to know

Throughout the world, there are several glamorous locations that are dedicated to gambling. However, the two that stand above the rest are Las Vegas and Macau. 

Gambling giants of the West and East, respectively, both attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to their doors every year.

With the landscapes of both Vegas and Macau dramatically changing in recent times due to the developments of hotels and new super casinos, both look set to continue being major gambling hotspots for years to come.

In this guide, we will reveal everything an online casino player needs to know about both destinations, revealing some of their most famous spots and the origins of how both came to be.

Las Vegas: the city that never sleeps

History

For decades, Las Vegas has been considered as the ultimate gambling destination. With a raft of iconic hotels and casinos spanning the entire length of Las Vegas’s iconic Strip, both Americans and gamblers from all over the world flock in their millions to get a taste of the unique and special atmosphere that Las Vegas provides. 

Located deep in the heart of the Nevada desert, Las Vegas came to be due to the vast renovation that took place in the American West during the early twentieth century. 

Acting as a gateway between Los Angeles and Utah, workers were initially sent to Vegas to work on the railroad linking the two commercial hubs. 

With an influx of young men to the area, they needed sources of entertainment, and in the 1930s, the city’s first casinos were built. 

Rapidly growing in popularity, by the time the 1960s rolled around, Las Vegas was well on the way to becoming the gambling giant that we are used to seeing today. 

The transition to becoming a major gambling city is largely attributed to American entrepreneur Howard Hughes. 

Hughes purchased his first Vegas hotel in 1966 and quickly capitalised on the gambling boom that came with Nevada’s legalisation of gambling in 1967.

The city steadily grew until the 1980s. The 80s and 90s saw the emergence of the mega hotels that have now popularised the Vegas Strip. 

The Mirage, MGM, Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, Mandalay Bay and Stratosphere all opened their doors and Vegas’ status of a super city was duly confirmed.

Las Vegas: more than just a gambling destination

Although gambling still remains the number one thing to do when in the city, Las Vegas has also turned into the entertainment capital of the world. 

Stars of the screen and stage have long been associated with Vegas, with Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley both having immortal links to the city. However, in recent times, Vegas has been able to reinvent itself for new, younger audiences. 

Stars such as Lady Gaga and Adele have both held long residences and have seen their legions of fans flock to see them. Formula 1 has added the Las Vegas race to its calendar, and the UFC has made Vegas its home. 

For the first time, the NFL has a dedicated team in the Las Vegas Raiders, and in 2024, the Super Bowl was held in the city for the first time in its long and illustrious history.

With some of the best nightclubs in the world and the iconic Grand Canyon just up the road, Vegas truly can accommodate every kind of taste.

Las Vegas: the destination where lives can change

With gambling links that go back almost one hundred years, it isn’t surprising that the city has seen some absolutely massive wins. 

The home of the North American Poker Tour, which will be sponsored by Pokerstars and other high roller tables, millions are exchanged at the poker, roulette, craps and blackjack tables every single day of the year.

The biggest win in Vegas history came back in 2003 when a software engineer from America tried his hands on the slot machines at the Excalibur hotel and after just ten minutes, his life had changed forever when he scored the $39.7 million jackpot. 

Stakes and tables for every wallet size

The one thing that has drawn millions to Vegas is the fact that everyone can play there. The stakes in town from Monday to Thursday can start from as low as $5, but by the time the weekend rolls around, the minimums have often risen to around $20.

With free drinks for all that play at the tables, the atmosphere is often fun and the air is packed full of excitement. 

A place like no other; those who are lucky enough to play in Vegas will have the time of their lives. 

Macau: A giant rises in the East

Macau may be a place you have never heard of. As an autonomous region of China, Macau has an interesting history. 

Always a part of China, in the 1500s, the area, comprising a peninsula and two islands, was leased to Portugal. Subsequently, it was treated as an area and dominion of Portuguese culture and society.

Differing from the rest of strict communist China, Macau was the only area within China where gambling was legal. Much like China’s deal with the United Kingdom which saw the British return Hong Kong back to Chinese ownership, a similar deal was struck with the Portuguese and in 1999 Macau was back in Chinese hands. 

Recognising the important role that legal gambling had on the Macau region and its finances, the Chinese government was happy to keep gambling legal, and to this day it remains the only part of the country where people can gamble legally.

Macau quickly becomes known as the gambling capital of the world

Having witnessed the rise of Vegas thanks to the accommodation of super hotels covering every inch of the famed Vegas strip. Those wanting to invest in Macau had a clear blueprint to follow. 

Upon a further relaxation of the gambling laws in Macau in 2002, huge corporations from both home and abroad were invited to invest in Macau. Before too long some of the most established casino and gambling names had a new home in the East. 

Despite being a tenth of the size of Vegas, by the time 2006 rolled around, Macau had outstripped the gambling revenues of Las Vegas by six times. It was around this time where Macau was officially announced as the new gambling capital of the world.

With 80% of Macau’s revenues made up of gambling revenues, a huge part of Macau’s success is its accommodation of Chinese high rollers. 

A huge part of the Macau gambling infrastructure, all of the world’s biggest bets are placed in Macau, with 43% of the total revenues made in Macau gambling coming directly from these big fish. 

The symbol of gambling in the East, Macau looked set to take over the gambling world until….

COVID wreaks havoc on the gambling industry in China, with Macau facing an uncertain future

Although to the Western world, it is slightly unclear as to the overall impact of COVID on China, one area where the impacts of the pandemic were keenly felt was in Macau. 

Almost entirely dependent on tourists to help maintain its economy, China’s strict lockdown rules essentially resulted in Macau becoming a ghost city for the best part of two years. 

Those local to the area relied on this gambling tourism to live and eat. A huge percentage of working adults from the area being employed by the various gambling giants that had made Macau their home, mass unemployment hit the area and it’s fair to say that the province is currently experiencing a downturn in its fortunes. 

With Vegas opening its doors to the world far earlier than its Eastern counterparts, since the end of the pandemic, Vegas has regained the crown of the gambling capital of the world. With the world finally rebuilding, Macau will be hoping to get back on its feet and become the world’s dominant gambling force once more. 

Las Vegas vs Macau: What does the future hold?

Across the world, gambling continues to go from strength to strength. Whilst the majority of gambling is now done online, the idea of travelling to either Las Vegas or Macau still has great appeal. 

When you travel to both Vegas and Macau, although gambling plays a central role in proceedings, the entertainment infrastructure that surrounds both also plays a vital part in choosing them as a holiday destination. 

Both Vegas and Macau have absolutely everything you need to have a fantastic time and although the general societies that surround both cities differ vastly, both Vegas and Macau should be around for decades to come. 

As the gambling community continues to grow and thrive, so should the mark that both cities will continue to leave.