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Macau - Las Vegas East
Macau, known as the "Las Vegas of the East," is a special administrative zone of China where gambling is legalized and has become a key source of income.
Unlike mainland China, where gambling is prohibited, Macau has built its economy around casinos, turning into the richest gambling center in the world.
Every year, millions of tourists come here to try their luck in luxurious halls and enjoy an atmosphere of excitement comparable to Nevada, but with an oriental flavor.
History and legal status
Gambling has been legalized in Macau since the 1850s, when the Portuguese authorities allowed the opening of public gambling houses.
After the region returned to Chinese jurisdiction in 1999, Macau retained its special legal and economic status (SAR - Special Administrative Region) in the "one country, two systems" format.
This allowed the region to retain its own legislation, currency (pataca - MOP) and tax policy, including the right to legalize gambling.
The main regulation is Law No. 16/2001 "Gaming Law," updated in 2022.
Macau gambling industry
Today, Macau is the world leader in casino revenue, overtaking Las Vegas.
Casinos work around the clock, and their architecture and scope are striking in scale.
Key features:- more than 30 large casinos and dozens of VIP lounges;
- gambling industry turnover - over $22 billion per year (2024);
- about 70% of the region's tax revenues are generated by gambling;
- the sector provides up to 80,000 jobs.
Major casino operators
Macau has 6 licensed operators that have received an extension of permits until 2032:1. SJM Holdings Ltd. is the owner of the famous Grand Lisboa;
2. Wynn Macau Ltd. — Wynn Palace и Wynn Macau;
3. Sands China Ltd. — The Venetian Macao, The Parisian, Sands Cotai Central;
4. MGM China Holdings Ltd. — MGM Cotai и MGM Macau;
5. Galaxy Entertainment Group — Galaxy Macau и Broadway Macau;
6. Melco Resorts & Entertainment — City of Dreams, Studio City.
These corporations control almost the entire market and invest billions in infrastructure, hospitality and tourism.
Online gambling
Despite the liberal attitude towards offline casinos, online gambling is prohibited in Macau.
According to Gaming Law (Article 2), any remote gambling - including online casinos, online betting and poker - is illegal.
Regulator - DICJ (Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau) - actively blocks sites and pursues operators trying to conduct online activities.
Only internal loyalty systems and gaming applications without real bets are allowed, which are used by large brands for marketing.
Nevertheless, residents of Macau and China actively use international sites with licenses from Curacao, Malta or the Philippines, using VPNs and cryptocurrencies, although formally this is a violation of the law.
Taxation and economics
Macau applies one of the strictest tax systems in the world, while maintaining attractiveness for operators due to stability and large-scale tourism.
In 2024, casino taxes brought the Macau budget about 80 billion MOP (approximately $10 billion).
Regulator and control
The regulatory body is DICJ (Direcção de Inspecção e Coordinenação de Jogos).
He is responsible for:- issue and renewal of licenses;
- financial monitoring of operators;
- audit of safety of games and equipment;
- Responsible Gaming control.
Each casino is required to connect all gaming systems to a centralized control platform that provides government oversight of turnover and taxes.
Responsible Gaming
Macau is actively developing responsible play programs:- the minimum age of participation is 21 years;
- Macau citizens are encouraged to limit the frequency of visits;
- the Self-Exclusion program is in effect, allowing the player to voluntarily block access to the casino;
- the state funds a center for helping addicts.
Large operators (Wynn, Galaxy, Melco) are required to implement internal systems for monitoring player behavior and conduct regular staff training.
Tourism and economy
The gambling sector forms the backbone of Macau's economy.
According to the government (2024):- 70% of the region's GDP comes from gambling and related services;
- more than 25 million tourists visit Macau annually, mainly from mainland China and Hong Kong;
- tourism and casino income provides the region with one of the highest per capita GDP in Asia.
In addition to casinos, operators are actively investing in the development of entertainment complexes, exhibition centers, gastronomy and e-sports in order to diversify the economy.
Fighting illegal operators
The Macau government, together with the mainland Chinese authorities, is actively fighting shadow online platforms and illegal halls.
Measures include:- blocking domains and bank accounts;
- criminal prosecution of operators;
- international cooperation with the Philippines, Cambodia and Malaysia.
From 2020 to 2024, more than 1,500 illegal sites aimed at a Chinese audience were closed.
Development prospects
The main directions of the strategy for 2025-2030:1. Diversification of the economy - reducing dependence on casinos, developing tourism, sports and IT.
2. Integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
3. Implement digital MOP (e-pataca) to increase transaction transparency.
4. Development of esports and AR entertainment in casinos.
5. Creation of conditions for regulated eGaming in the future (with the participation of DICJ and the PRC authorities).
Macau deservedly bears the title of "Las Vegas East."
It is the place where the gambling business reached the world summit, combining eastern discipline and western scale.
Combining strict controls, luxury and billions in investment, Macau has become a symbol of legal and sustainable gambling.
Although online casinos remain banned, Macau sets the standard for quality and regulation, serving as an example for all world gambling jurisdictions - from Europe to Asia.
