Macau: World biggest casino centre?

[slimbob]

What? No Vegas?

And where is Macau?

Ok Macau is a city in China (very close to Hongkong).

Macau was part of Portugal until 1999 when it became part of China but as a special administrative zone. Macaus biggest attraction is gambling.

According to the “Bangkok Post” Thailands biggest newspaper in English Macau have “dethroned the Las Vegas Strip as the world biggest casino centre”.

Macaus revenues from gambling (casino, lotterie, dog and horse racing) was 6.95 billion US$ in 2006 and the estimated revenues from the Las Vegas Strip for 2006 are 6.57 billion US$.

Ok you may argue that the Strip is not Vegas and Macau should be compared to Vegas and not the Strip.

The revenues of Nevada for 2006 are 10.66 billion US$ for 2005 so way to go for Macau but Macau was growing at a rate of 22% in 2006 according to the Bangkok Post so its only a matter of time if you can seriously claim that Macau is the gambling capital of the world.

The Bangkok Post stated also that half of the worlds population live within 5 hours by plane- 3 billion people or 3 000 000 000!

A quote from billionaire Steve Wynn (casino owner):

“The speed of development is dizzying and the population is expending and is economically growing at a rate larger than any other part of the world.”

My own thoughts:

I see every year more tourists from China in Thailand. You may argue that most Chinese people are very poor. That is true but they have a fast growing middleclass and even if only 10% of the population can afford a trip to Macau that are more than 100 Million people.

Unfortunately Texas Holdem is not played in Macau but this will change as more and more big casino owners from Vegas will open a casino in Macau like Steve Wynn. Lots of big casinos will open in the next couple of years.

The good thing is that Chinese people are gambling crazy so thats a good chance that poker replace baccarat as the number one cardgame in Macau (may be wishful thinking but I am pretty excited about that idea!).

The good news is that I see more and more players from Asia at my table and more and more visitors from Asia who click my blog so I hope more and more players from Asia will start also live.

What do you think? Especially if you live in Asia I am interested in your opinion about the future of poker in Macau and in other asian countries like Thailand or Singapore.

slimbob

[J.A.Sucker]

Macau is a crazy place.

Plus it has Fernando's. I love that place - sitting on the back patio, eating the amazing food, drinking cognac, smoking Cubans, and listening to Fernando's stories is the greatest...

[CrazyEyez]

[ QUOTE ]
The Bangkok Post stated also that half of the worlds population live within 5 hours by plane- 3 billion people or 3 000 000 000!


[/ QUOTE ]
That is mind-boggling.

[groton]

yah that stat is super mind-bogging

[slimbob]

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
The Bangkok Post stated also that half of the worlds population live within 5 hours by plane- 3 billion people or 3 000 000 000!



That is mind-boggling.

[/ QUOTE ]

And almost all of them never player poker before!

Its so unbelievable mind-boggling ... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[playersare]

there was plenty of gambling in Macau even before Wynn and Sands showed up, and poker was not even remotely popular then at the time. how do you expect to teach poker to a baccarat player who didn't even play five card draw as a kid? they would offer real money mah jong first way before even trying to spread any serious hold em or stud.

poker's revenue market share in Nevada at the end of 2006 was approximately 1.3% compared to slots and all other table games. the potential for the same in asia is proportionally microscopic. what's to get excited about?

[Beachman42]

Good Morning America did a piece on Macau this morning stating the proximity numbers and that the Sands Casino paid for itself in 1 year! Wynn's new place is open and the development plans for Macau dwarf LV. Never been, but its on the list of places to visit!

[bob2007]

It'll be great when they spread poker. Hopefully the pro's won't make a living there, but for an Asian, definetly a possibility.

[AngusThermopyle]

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It'll be great when they spread poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would they spread poker?
A poker table makes the casino less money than a pit game.
There is no "poker culture" (Maverick, Cincinnati Kid, Rounders, 'Saturday night home games') in Asia.
The Sands debt payoff is impressive, but it cost 1/10 of what the LV Wynn cost and was the first big new casino in Macao. What happens when 5 more are built? Is the demand really that great?

[slimbob]

[ QUOTE ]
Why would they spread poker?
A poker table makes the casino less money than a pit game.
There is no "poker culture" (Maverick, Cincinnati Kid, Rounders, 'Saturday night home games') in Asia.
The Sands debt payoff is impressive, but it cost 1/10 of what the LV Wynn cost and was the first big new casino in Macao. What happens when 5 more are built? Is the demand really that great?

[/ QUOTE ]

1. 5 years ago Texas Holdem was almost unknown in Europe.

2. More and more asian player are playing online.

3. WPT is broadcasted in China and Singapore.

4. All big casinocompanies in Vegas are going to Macau.

Probably they bring poker to Asia.

5. Society in most countries in Asia and especiially in China are more and more americanized/westernized.

6. Asian people love playing cards and the most played card game in Thailand for example is very similar to draw poker (with 3 cards). I dont know what card games people play in China besides Baccarat but I have no doubt that poker is very interesting for most Asians because of the very easy rules.

slimbob