Gambling Capital of the World

As the gambling capital of Asia, Macau is visited by players and tourists from Asia and the Middle East. Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the USA, on the other and is a popular destination for players from the Americas and Europe. This separation was noticeable in the past, but in our days, international travel is open. More gamblers and tourists visit faraway destinations during the last decades, and some have even tried both Macau and Vegas entertainment.

What is the Gambling Capital of the World?

You have heard that Macau is the gambling capital of Asia or that Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the USA. Both locations well deserve the world-renowned gambling destination fame, and they constantly improve their entertainments and gambling opportunities. Before jumping into details and explaining why each of those gaming destinations is amazing, we will take a step back and explain what a gambling capital is.

A gambling capital is not just a street with a bunch of casinos. Those gaming destinations aim to create the ultimate gambling experience in a comfortable environment. Once this basic goal is reached, each casino and gambling room expands the players’ entertainment and experience uniquely. For example, some casinos have a casino dress code, while others are fine with players wearing flip flops and shorts.

Since the gaming experience is different for everyone, we made a list of visitors and player’s needs. In the right column of the table, you can find the services offered by every city, which is pushing to be a gambling capital. The top resorts worldwide offer this and much more:

Today, the most popular gambling destinations are Atlantic City (USA), Hong Kong (China), Las Vegas (USA), London (UK), Macau (China), Marina Bay (Singapore), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Paradise Island and Nassau (Bahamas), Paris (France), Reno (USA) and more.

As you can see, Las Vegas gambling capital and Macau gambling capital of the world are both parts of the list. Those destinations are the places where all your gambling desires will be satisfied while you play with a glass of the best casino drinks in your hand.

Macau – The Gambling Capital of Asia

“Macau – gambling capital of the world” label, can be seen everywhere. This is not a commercial because the island in the South China Sea, West of Hong Kong 60 km (37 mi), on the western side of the Pearl River estuary. Macau’s name translates as Big Gate, but everyone calls it “the Pearl City of Asia”. This fame is well deserved through the centuries and even more so today.

History of Macau

In 1557, China granted Macau to Portugal because they were in alliance with Spain. It took a few centuries for the peaceful Portuguese colony to transform into a gaming area. By the 1840s, the Portuguese administrators needed more income, so they started selling indentured labourers (slaves and cheap labourers) to Latin American mines and plantations. Licensing brothels and regulating gaming houses were the next steps towards a decadent lifestyle.

“A material and moral rubbish heap.”Camilo Pessanha, (1867 –1926) Portuguese poet who lived in Macau

In the 1920s, gamblers from the West titled Las Vegas “gambling capital of the world”, while travellers to Asia remained astonished by the “Monte Carlo of the Orient”. Macau’s history took another turn when in the 1960s Stanley Ho was granted rights to syndicate by the government. After Hong Kong and Macau were returned to China in 1999, the gambling location became a Special Administrative Region.

Top Macau Casinos & Gambling Games

As of 2019, the gambling capital of Asia has 41 casinos and many more gaming locations. Twenty-four of those casinos are located on the Macau Peninsula, while 17 are on Taipa Island and the Cotai Strip. All of those locations are safe and legal because they are regulated and operate under a government franchise and set of rules.

In Macau, you can enjoy the full range of casino games (roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, boule, Sic Bo, Fan Tan, keno, and slots). The top casinos often have private, high stakes, and VIP rooms. Besides casino gaming, you can try the local horse and greyhound racing tracks. Foreigners can even buy a ticket for the Chinese national lottery and win it.

If you are wondering which is the best Macau casino for 2021, then undoubtedly The Venetian Macau qualifies as number one in this category and also as the biggest casino in the world. It opened its doors in 2007, with a size of 550,000 square feet, holding 3400+ slot machines and 800+ gambling tables. You have to be 21 years old to play at the casino, but there is plenty more to do in the ten and a half million square foot resort.

Top alternatives are Wynn Macau (opened in 2014) with its 273,000 square feet, 212+ table games and 375+ slots, and the City of Dreams (opened in 2009) with size of 420,000 square feet, 1514+ slots, and 550+ gaming tables. If you like casinos with rich history, then Casino Lisboa is the place for you. There are 107 slots, 146 table games, and 927 gambling rooms on its 190,000 square feet.

Macau Hotels & Restaurants

To answer your question, “what is the gambling capital of the world?” we will need to describe more than just the gambling opportunities. Gaming and entertainment might have brought you here, but the first thing travellers look for is a place to stay. Macau offers the full range of accommodations from the cheapest hostels to the 5-star resorts. We recommend you check in advance where to stay in Macau and make a booking.

When it comes to food and drinks, Macau offers Asian, Indian, and Portuguese cuisine. There are also many international cuisine restaurants offering European dishes, BBQ, hamburgers, and more. Some of the most popular locations require reservations, but most restaurants and diners are walk-in. If you feel adventurous, you can even buy something from the local food market and the street stalls. When you choose the cheaper locations, you will not need to worry about the cost of living in Macau.

Macau Bars, Night Life & Entertainment

As a Chinese gambling capital of the world, Macau is visited by millions of gamblers and tourists from China, Hong Kong, and the rest of Asia and the Middle East. Alongside this, there are thousands of tourists from Europe, the Americas, and Australia. If Macau is your next vacation destination, check out which are the best ways to travel from Hong Kong to Macau.

There are multiple bars and drinking locations, but we recommend that you don’t overdo the partying. Tourists who had visited Macau state that their best experience was when they filled their evenings with concerts, walks in the park, and visited local entertainment centres. Many even flowed James Bond’s steps and visited the 007: Skyfall (2012) and other popular movie set locations. After that, there is always time for a drink or a midnight snack.

Las Vegas – The Gambling Capital of the USA

“Las Vegas gambling capital of the world” title is awarded by any player who likes the good USA gambling experience. Known as the “America’s Playground”, Vegas can offer everything from extravagant and over-the-top entertainment for high rollers to family vacations. Here, there is entertainment for every age and taste. As years go by, Las Vegas gets bigger, brighter, and better in every way. If you wonder is Las Vegas still the top gambling destination in the world, then keep reading.

Las Vegas History

Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared on the maps in 1905 as a train stop of a railroad linking Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s drew many young men who needed entertainment. In 1931, Pair-o-Dice Club became the first of the oldest casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Vegas grew from the desert during the last century and transformed from Sin City to a family-friendly destination. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist destination, where people go on a vacation and even for a quick Las Vegas wedding.

Las Vegas Strip Casinos

The gambling capital of the USA, Las Vegas has 144+ casinos, 30 of them are on the Las Vegas Strip, and the other 51 in the Strip area. Such a great selection offers more winning opportunities than you can imagine. There are plenty of low bets tables and cheap gaming machines everywhere. If you are in for the big wagers, then the high roller casinos in Las Vegas are the right place for you. Here are some of the best and most popular casinos in Las Vegas:

There, you can find the full range of popular casino table games, slots, and customised gambling games. As a casino in the gambling capital of the world, each of those locations has low and high stakes. There are also VIP tables and private gambling rooms where you can play against celebrities and businessmen for crazy amounts of money. You can also join many national and international tournaments. If you have a chance to play in Vegas, it might be tough to choose only one place to play. Therefore, go around and enjoy all top legal casinos as much as you like.

Las Vegas Hotels – Get Spoiled with Luxury

Many of the top resorts and hotels in Macau – gambling capital of the world located in Asia have a twin casino in Las Vegas. You can find them in our article about the 10 best hotels in Las Vegas. We are sure that you will not be surprised to find famous names like Wynn, Luxor, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Bellagio, and many more on the list. All those locations have outstanding customer service and comfortable accommodations for all visitors.

Since the western world knows Las Vegas as the gambling capital of the world, many people wish to visit the city. Don’t worry that you can’t afford it because Vegas has the full range of accommodations, hotels, and rentals you can imagine. The prices can go as high as $100,000 per night and drop to a more affordable prizes of $20 per night. Even if you intend to spend as little as possible for the hotel, we recommend you to avoid the worst hotels in Las Vegas and shady accommodations.

Las Vegas Restaurants & Bars

Just like in the gambling capital of Asia, Macau, all Las Vegas visitors can visit an astonishing amount of diners, restaurants, café, pastry shops, and other food-producing locations. Even though the best restaurants in Las Vegas may not be for every pocket, you can always go there for a special occasion. Just make sure you have made a reservation in advance and leave a nice tip.

There are countless affordable alternatives to the top-rated and Michelin restaurants. Since Vegas’ population has many people from different nationalities, you will be able to enjoy international cuisine. If you are on a low budget trip, the top cheap eats in Las Vegas are your options.

The list of the top night clubs in Vegas changes all the time depending on the newest trending location. Some of the all-time favourites are TAO Nightclub (The Venetian), Apex Social Club (Palms Hotel and Casino), EBC at Night (Wynn), and more. Since gambling and alcohol walk hand in hand, you can get a drink at any place and any time.

The Las Vegas Strip Entertainments

What is the gambling capital of the world, if not a place where you can spend your cash or win a fortune in a blink? But anyone who steps on the Las Vegas Strip can see that Vegas offers more than casinos. All you have to do to find entertainment is walk out of your hotel.

If you like culture and art, then the best 10 museums in Vegas are the place for you. There are countless shopping malls, markets, and stores opened for visitors and locals. If you don’t feel like spending, you can always enjoy the parks, Bellagio fountains, and gardens.

Movie fans can visit the top 5 Las Vegas TV show locations and find where scenes from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Las Vegas, and Ocean’s 11 & Ocean’s 13 were shot. Children can also have many entertainment options like theme parks, rollercoasters, and playgrounds.

The Gambling Capital of the World Popular Questions

If you wish to visit the gambling capital of the world, then you have more than one destination. In our article, we described the visitors’ expectations when they visit a city claiming to be a gambling capital. We also gave you brief information about the two competitors for this title – Las Vegas (USA) and Macau (China). Now, we will answer the popular questions on the matter.