Gambling is Macau's biggest industry and busloads arrive daily from mainland China to try their luck. In addition, many Hong Kongers arrive on weekends with the same aim. Most casinos are along the waterfront on the southern side of Macau peninsula.
There are ATM machines available at either casino as well as forex facilities to change your money. Gamblers are required to be at least 18 years of age to be allowed to play.
North of the Lisboa is a strip with many smaller casinos, a number of hotels and bars, and quite a few restaurants. This can be one of the more interesting areas of Macau; among other things it has quite a good Indian restaurant and several Portuguese ones. However, parts of it are also fairly sleazy, with lots of hookers and touts, so some caution is in order.
- The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, The Cotai Strip, ☎ +(853) 28 82 88 88 is touted as the Asia's largest casino, housed in its largest building and at a cost of nearly $2.4bn it is no surprise. There are close to 3,000 suites, 16,000 staff members, 840 gaming tables and 3,400 slot machines. In addition it has a 15,000 seat sports arena. The conceit is Venice meets China and there is even an indoor canal replete with gonola and sampan rides.
- Wynn Macau, Avenida Da Amizade, ☎ +(853) 28 88 99 66,Wynn's huge casino/hotel/resort complex opened and many expect it to soon surpass all of its rivals in gambling income. The casino is beautiful with mostly slot machines and baccarat tables. The Wynn offers lots of very upscale shopping and several fine restaurants.
- Rio Hotel & Casino, Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes, ☎ +(853) 28 718 718 (fax: +(853) 28 718 728)
- Sands Macau, Avenida de Amizade, ☎ +853 2888 3388. The Sands offers a more open Las Vegas feel along with a smoke-free gaming room, the Pearl Room. Tables at the Sands play almost exclusivly in HKD.
- Casino Lisboa, The Lisboa offers an older world Macau feel on its gaming floors, structured in a labyrinth of different clubs and rooms for various levels of play. Tables play in both MOP and HKD.
- Crown Macau, Crown Macau is located on Taipa island, Macau on the intersection of Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Avenida de Kwong Tung., ☎ +853 8038 000 (fax: +853 28839 800).
