Macao only has about 600,000 residents – compared to seven million in Hong Kong – but brings in six times as much revenue as Las Vegas in a typical year.īefore the pandemic, 80% of Macao’s government revenue came from the gaming industry. Often called the “Vegas of Asia,” in pre-pandemic times it wasn’t unusual to see a high-spending “whale” helicopter in and out of the city for a single afternoon at the craps table.Īs a result, the city’s primary economy is the casinos and the businesses supporting them, from hotels to spas to high-end shops.
Macao, an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong, is the only place in China where gambling is legal. 'Everything starts to become better': After three years of Covid isolation, China opens its gates
