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At the moment, I'm in Hong Kong. From what I have observed, there is almost a zero presence in terms of online poker. So far, I have seen one Texas Hold'em-related item for sale in a shop so far and zero television coverage. In addition, I have only seen one poker book in 5 bookstores that I've visited (Michael Craig's The Professor, The Banker, and The Suicide King).

As for Macau, I will be heading over in the weekend and will see if their casinos spread any form of poker. As far as I know, Baccarat is the dominant form of gambling (in terms of income for casino). I think the Sands Macau (run by the people who run the Venetian) has opened and the Wynn Macau will open in a two weeks (September 9th, I think).

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Hong Kong is another market where the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is struggling to maintain its government-sanctioned gaming monopoly.

While the Hong Kong legislature has passed a law outlawing anyone in Hong Kong from wagering online with any other entity besides the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the law is unenforceable because 1) the Hong Kong government does NOT have censorship control over Internet traffic in and out of Hong Kong, and 2) offshore online gaming sites such as DrHo888.com had been advertising in Hong Kong before the Hong Kong legislature enacted the law in a belated attempt to protect the Hong Kong Jockey Club monopoly.

As for Macau, the gaming law there currently does NOT permit Texas Hold'em to be spread. Stud Poker, 5 Card Poker, and 13-card poker (Chinese Poker) are allowed, as is the "3 Card Poker" table game.

The American-owned mega resort casinos in Macau will have to lobby the Macau Gaming Commission to approve Texas Hold'em before Texas Hold'em can be spread.

I expect MGM Grand Macau and WPTE to apply to the Macau Gaming Commission for permission to spread Texas Hold'em and the "WPT ALL-IN Hold'em" table game prior to the first WPT event to be held at the MGM Grand Macau, which I expect to take place in 2008.

What you will witness in Macau this weekend is the "calm before the storm".

The Wynn Macau, which has a hotel that looks like Wynn Las Vegas with a dancing water fountain in front of the building that looks like the fountain in front of the Bellagio, will open SEPTEMBER 5TH.