Have you ever heard of “beginner’s luck”?  It is a common belief that those who gamble for the first time would always be extra lucky on their first bet.  I have no idea if this is true but I guess there is no harm in believing.  This is why I have made a conscious effort to save my “beginner’s luck” and use it when I get to visit the casinos of Las Vegas.  I have been successful in resisting the urge to gamble as I seldom visit casinos in my country.  I had no problem resisting temptation until I got to visit the casinos of Macau.

I had the chance to casino-hop during my recent trip to Macau.  I was so awestruck the moment I saw the fascades of the casinos but nothing prepared me for their lovely dazzling lights at night.  I felt as if I was glued to that position and hypnotized by all those colourful dancing neon signs.

The Portuguese legalized gambling in Macau during the 1850s.   To this date, gambling has become an important part in the lives of the people of Macau and in the city’s thriving economy.  People who are fond of gambling find a piece of heaven in Macau which is considered the gambling capital of Asia.  Macau is known to attract gamblers not only from nearby mainland China or Hong Kong but people from all over the world.  Macau was able to overtake Las Vegas as the World’s Number One Gambling Operation in 2007.  As of today, Macau has twenty nine casinos and this number is projected to double within the year.

The most popular games in the casinos are the roulette, baccarat, blackjack, fan-tan, and the ever addicting slot machines.  The newest addition to this line-up would have to be Poker which was only introduced some two years ago at the Casino Starworld. The introduction of Poker paved the way to the organization of the first Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Macau in 2007.  If you would like to play Poker with a live cash dealer then you can head to the Casino Wynn, Casino Grand Lisboa, or the Casino Waldo.

Here’s a list of the biggest and most extravagant casinos that you can visit during your trip to Macau:

CASINO LISBOA (2-4 Avenida de Lisboa) – This casino is considered to be one of the oldest casinos in Macau and it is located in the central business area.  In order to keep up with the competition, this casino underwent a major facelift in 2007.  This world-class casino offers its visitors great entertainment that comes in the form of cabaret shows.  If you are looking for a nice accommodation in Macau then you can stay at the Hotel Grand Lisboa Macau.  It is located in the heart of the city and within walking distance to the Casino Wynn and Casino MGM Grand.

CASINO MGM GRAND MACAU (Avenida Drive Sun Yat Sen Nape Macau) – The Casino MGM Grand Macau is located by the waterfront.  It houses a proud casino that is made up of 222, 000 square foot casino floor that is occupied by300 table games and about a thousand slot machines.

CASINO SANDS (Avenida de Amizade) – The Casino Sands claims that it is the first casino in Macau that was patterned after Las Vegas.  The public’s response was so overwhelming that the Casino Sands was able to earn back its capital within only one year of its operations.  In order to meet the demands of its increasing clientele, the casino underwent an expansion in 2006.  How could anyone resist all those free drinks, live bands, exaggerated buffets, and the impressive casino complex?  Casino Sands has around 740 gaming tables and more than a thousand slot machines.

CASINO VENETIAN (Estrada Da Bafa De North Senhora Da Esperanca, The Cotai Strip) – The Venetian Hotel was launched to the public in a grandiose opening in 2007.  It was the very first casino to open on the Cotai Strip, an area in Macau that is projected to be the biggest rival of Las Vegas by 2010.   Even if it is located far from the usual tourist attractions, its extravagant gaming hall is a must-visit for any gambling fanatic. But the great thing is there are free Venetian shuttle buses that can bring visitors to the other islands.

CASINO WYNN (Avendia da Amizade) – This particular casino opened in Macau in 2006 and guests enjoyed about 100, 000 square feet of gaming hall with over 200 table games and almost 400 slot machines.  It is hard not to fall in love with the Casino Wynn.  The dancing fountain show that greets guests at the entrance is just an appetizer for the dreamlike experience that one can have just by walking on the casino floor.

Of course, these are not the only casinos that you can visit in Macau.  You will find a list of Macau’s casinos at the bottom of this article together with contact numbers.  This can serve as your Macau casino guide.

As for me, I had to muster my self control and resisted the impulse to try the slot machines.  I still have my “beginner’s luck” and I’m still dreaming of my date with the casinos of Las Vegas.  But on my next trip to Macau, I’m not really sure if I can hold on to my “beginner’s luck” any longer.

CONTACT DETAILS OF MACAU’S CASINOS:

CASINO LISBOA ………………  +853 82977111
MGM GRAND MACAU ………. +853 88028888
CASINO VENETIAN …………. +853 28828888
CASINO WYNN ……………….. +853 89869966

Posted in Macau, Things to do

This entry was posted on Friday, January 30th, 2009 at 1:16 am and is filed under Macau, Things to do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.