by Life is not normal as it always was in Macau following a government directive to close down casinos as a response to COVID-19. Macau, commonly known as the Las Vegas of Asia, is a special administrative region of China and a gambling hot spot. Casinos and gambling-related business forms more than 80% of local revenues.
Macau ordered all casinos to close after the coronavirus death toll increased in China. Closure of various casinos has severely reduced gambling revenues.
So, how has COVID-19 impacted the Casino Scene in Macau?
Coronavirus pandemic has virtually wiped out gambling revenue in April as casinos in Macau face their worst month. According to the data collected by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, gaming revenue has reduced to $95 million- a 97% drop from the $3billion revenue last year.
It is worth noting that visitors to Macau account for more than 90% of local tourists, mostly from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Therefore the travel ban and restrictions have much interfered with the gambling business. The recovery of the gambling industry in Macau will highly depend on travel ban lifting.
The coronavirus pandemic worst hit the former Portuguese colony after all its casinos were closed down. However, the casinos have started to reopen following anti-virus measures to be observed. Ho lat Seng Macau’s leader said that Macau’s economic stability was the worst hit due to its overdependence on the casino industry.
As a result of the pandemic, many people in Macau have lost their employment as the gaming industry employs directly or indirectly three-quarters of the areas 600,000 population.
Unlike many casinos in Las Vegas, casinos in Macau are well-positioned as they have huge piles of cash accumulated during boom periods. The most affected will be the Macau government that collects over 80% of its revenue from the gaming sector.
Top Best Casinos in Macau
Macau has the best places in the world that you can stay round-the-clock gaming. Macau has 40 casinos that offer diverse games.
- The Wynn Palace
This classy place was opened in August 2016 and one of the few properties with five-star status. Located in front of an eight-acre human-made lake, the casino offers a great view that is combined with spectacular lighting. The casino offers about 350 gaming tables, including 60 VIP tables, with additional 50 tables expected to be added later next year. Whichever your gaming skills are, the casino offers a variety of video poker, video slots, progressive slots in addition to more than 1000 live table games and gaming machines.
- The Venetian
It is the biggest casino in the world, with the largest casino floor with 376,000 square feet of gaming space. The casino has 640 tables gaming tables ranging from sands stud poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and sics bo. You cannot exhaust the 1,760 slot machines with an impeccable design for the Asian market.
- The MGM Macau
The artistic casino located on the Macau Peninsula is a mainstay of the casino scene. At the entrance of the casino, you will notice original Salvador Dali sculptures dotted about the resort. Housed under a spectacular glass ceiling, the casino has a 284,353 square-foot gaming space with 427 tables and 1,271 gaming machines.
- The Grand Lisboa
This iconic 12-story casino was initially built in1970 by Stanley Ho- gambling godfather in Macau. The casino’s flower-shaped wacky gold exterior will catch your attention. The gaming space is divided over four floors with more than 390 gaming tables and 880 slot machines. If you are a fan of the fortune wheel, then Grand Lisboa is the place to be.
