Located in a prime location in the outer harbor district with a direct connection to the Macau Ferry Terminal, Hotel Jai Alai is only a few minutes walk from the pier. The hotel is crafted with touches of elegance and simplicity in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea area. Casino Jai Alai is located on the north east end of the Macau strip, about three blocks north of Avenida de Amizade. It is a 10 minute walk to the ferry terminal and better casinos such as the Mandarin Casino Oriental and the Sands Macao. SJM Executive Director and Chief Administrative Officer Angela Leong On Kei said on Monday that about 30 gaming tables would be enough for the company’s Casino Jai Alai that is set to reopen by the end of the year. Leong made the comments while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a business matching session Continue reading '30 gaming tables ‘enough’ for Jai Alai Macau says.

INTRODUCTION

The Golden Dragon Hotel opened in 2005 and is owned by a Mr. Chan, the same man who owns Hotel Taipa Square down on Taipa Island. With not much separating it in the looks department from nearby office and apartment buildings in this part of Macau, his hotel just blends into the background. That's more than an apt marker of things to come, because neither the Golden Dragon casino nor hotel do anything of real merit, despite what you might read on their website.

SJM is in charge of the casino, their fourteenth venture into the Macau island gaming market.

LOCATION

There's a cluster of medium-sized mid-range hotels right around Golden Dragon, with Jai Alai, Casa Real, Lan Kwai Fong and the Waldo all operating in the general area. Why you ask? Well the answer is easy, it's for all of the Hong Kong money coming in by boat or helicopter via the Macau ferry terminal, located a short walk away from Golden Dragon.

Or to put it another way, to find Golden Dragon, just find Fisherman's Wharf, because the gate to the amusement park is situated just across the street.

Image Gallery

CASINO

I was looking forward to reviewing the Golden Dragon casino due to its energetic portrayal on the hotel website. It describes a casino based on a carnival motif, inspired by celebrations from all over the world, which include 'lively and colorful settings' and decorations such as masks, sculpture and a Spanish firework lighting effect on the ceiling. In addition, there are six VIP rooms each designed with a particular festival in mind, with examples being a Caribbean festival in Trinidad, a Bohemian celebration in Paris and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, among others. I was thinking a good part of this casino section would have to be spent on the visuals alone, as they sounded invigorating and intense.

And then what happened? I went there and saw... absolutely nothing... but a boring bland casino floor I've seen repeated in Macau so many times before. It was pathetic. There are no Bohemian celebrations or world festivals or masks or anything that the website says there's supposed to be. Instead, the Golden Dragon designers decided on a bunch of red lights, red pillars and red chandeliers, and called it a day. The whole thing doesn't look like it took anyone more than two hours to put together. I'm pretty confident that whoever wrote with the fiction on the website used a lot more imagination than anyone who designed it did. In other words, the casino visuals are easily some of Macau's worst.

As for the actual gaming, the casino takes up three floors, with most of the tables found on the second floor. 40 tables make up this area with six found in a high limit area. Minimums are lower now than they were in January. At that time, the high limit area had $300, $500, and $1,000 tables, but now they're all $200. Other tables on the floor are mostly $100 or $200, while a few are $300 and $500. There used to be a slots section behind the stairs at the back of the room, holding 55 machines with 5¢ to 20¢ minimums, but they've been since moved out and now that room is empty.

The third floor has two VIP clubs and a little bit more mass gaming. 15 baccarat tables, with minimums of $300, $500 and $1,000, belong to Golden Dragon while Sun City VIP and Sun VIP operate the rest. Cash back returns at the two clubs are similar with Sun VIP returning 1.2% and Sun City VIP giving 1.15%, but Sun City requires a much higher buy in ($500,000) than Sun VIP ($10,000). As for how they look, Sun City VIP definitely takes the cake. Done up in regal white with a lot of short square pillars and nice looking chairs, it's the best looking place in the whole casino. Sun City is home to nine tables ($1,000 to $5,000) while Sun VIP has seven baccarat tables all at $2,000.

The first floor is now home to another VIP club, named Lucky Star, which just opened this July. Requiring only a $1,000 buy in, its 1.1% rate of return is the lowest in the casino (1% cash back and 0.1% complimentary allowance.) Seven tables take up this VIP section with minimums of $1,000, $2,000 and $10,000.

GAMES

Boring selection of games for a boring casino. There aren't even any slots anymore, with that section currently closed down and void of machines. When or if they'll return is anyone's guess.

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Sic Bo — Five different bets are available.

PROMOTIONS

Player Card — The Golden Dragon player card is for VIP players only who join the cash buy in program. The card is primarily used to keep a running record of points available to be redeemed in the hotel's food, beverage, and entertainment outlets. Golden Dragon's membership desk had several brochures describing the following programs:

1. Cash buy in of $10000 nets your choice of:
   • 1% back in promotional chips
   • 0.9% cash back (monthly) + 5 pts complimentary allowance. (1 pt = $1 in hotel food, beverage and entertainment outlets.)
   • 0.8% cash back (right away)
2. Cash buy in of $40,000 gets a free room at Golden Dragon Sunday to Thursday.
   Cash buy in of $60,000 gets a free room on Friday,
   Cash buy in of $80,000 gets a free room on Saturday.
3. Cash buy in of $5000 nets a $50 coupon which can be used in the hotel outlets.
   Cash buy in of $10,000 nets a $130 coupon which can be used in the hotel outlets.
   Cash buy in of $20,000 gets one free entry into the Crazy Happy Show.
   Cash buy in of $30,000 gets one free entry into the Eighteen Sauna.
   Cash buy in of $40,000 gets one free 45 minute massage at Eighteen Sauna.
4. Cash buy in of $50,000 plus nets 1.1% cash back (monthly)

All in all, these deals are pretty good. 1.1% is higher than what you get from many other casinos who usually stay in the 0.7% to 0.9% range. The prices for the free room are at market as well, except for the Saturday price of $80,000. That's a bit out of line. A price of $60,000 for both Friday and Saturday is a much fairer number.

If you're looking for any general promotions related to non VIP gambling, there aren't any.

HOTEL

Golden Dragon is a pretty big hotel, with 483 guest rooms in all. To put that into perspective, it has more rooms than Ponte 16 (408), the Grand Lisboa (430), and Landmark (460), three hotels which certainly look much larger. Rooms in the main building can be found on floors 5 to 17 while sleeping quarters in the tower section are on the 12th to 18th floors. Visually speaking, the inside of the hotel in both parts lacks a whole lot of character.

Tracking down the room rates was not an easy task. Usually there's a booking service on the hotel website that lists current prices quickly and conveniently, but the Golden Dragon website doesn't offer that courtesy. All they do is generically list room rates, but those numbers are always wrong. For some reason, no matter what hotel you're in Macau, a brochure from the front desk or a general list of rates on the website will always be overpriced by about 1,000 patacas. A standard room at Golden Dragon, for example, is quoted online at $1,880, but on weekdays the same room is only $1,081. Quite what business sense that makes I don't know.

So I've been forced to consult agoda.com here. The rates might not be exactly right, but they'll be close enough. Taxes and service charges already included.

The Sunday to Thursday standard room rate is just about as low as you can get for casino hotels in this part of Macau (excluding the President and Fortuna.) Only the Rio undercuts it, by a slim 40 patacas.

POOL

I saw the pool in its offseason state, completely drained of water and covered up with a net like tarp. Staff told me it closes three months of the year, from January to March. Imagining what it might look like when it's opened, I think the outside patio setup will more than suffice, nicely aided by the row of plants you see on the right. The only problem might be with the size. At only 6 by 14 meters, the pool may be too small to be able to stand up to peak summer demand.

Pool hours are from 8 AM to 7 PM, and is accessible through the main building's Fitness Center.

RESTAURANTS

Golden Dragon's two restaurants do Cantonese and International fare. There used to be a Japanese restaurant, but it closed for good.

Dragon Palace — Great views from Fisherman's Wharf from this fourth floor Cantonese restaurant. Abalone and shark's fin are the most expensive things on the menu, going for $200 to $500, while most other main dishes fall nicely into the $58 to $68 range. Around 15 VIP rooms equipped with plasma TV's are also available for groups who want a little privacy. In total, the restaurant seats 286. Opening hours Monday to Saturday are from 11 am to 3 PM and 6 PM to 11 PM. On Sundays and public holidays doors open an hour earlier at 10 am.

Villa Picasso — Villa Picasso does international buffet at very decent rates. Breakfast is a super low $65 for both children and adults, while lunch runs $78 for adults and $48 for children. Dinner prices, on the other hand, fluctuate according to the day of the week. From Monday to Thursday they're $168 for adults and $128 for children, while from Friday to Sunday, adults and children are charged $20 more. Keep in mind, there's still a 10% service charge.

Villa Picasso also has an a la carte menu, which is a mix of Western and Chinese. Pasta and sandwiches are $55 to $62 while Chinese noodle and rice dishes go for $58 to $72. Alcoholic beverages are quite affordable as well with beers costing between $30 to $40 and cocktails a very acceptable $36 to $38.

Nice Lounge is Villa Picasso's bar section, where you can enjoy a few drinks post meal. Drink prices are the same as at Villa Picasso. Villa Picasso and Nice Lounge hold 220 and 30 people respectively and are open 7 AM to 12 AM daily. Located on the first floor.

HEALTH CLUB/SPA

The Golden Dragon fitness center is made up of a paltry five machines: two treadmills, a bike, a step machine and one larger one that works chest and legs. There's also a rack of dumbbells in the corner. In other words, if you plan to keep pumping iron on the road, then try staying at another hotel. Casa Real and Lan Kwai Fong are other options in the neighborhood that offer excellent fitness facilities.

It makes me wonder what kind of shape the hotel owner Mr. Chan is in. That's only because his other hotel, Taipa Square, has an even worse gym than the one at Golden Dragon. That one is maybe six feet by six feet and consists of three machines in total. Maybe Mr. Chan ought to move the stepper from the Golden Dragon to Taipa Square so both places will have an equal number of machines and be equally pathetic.

Gym hours are from 8 AM to 7 PM, or the same as the pool. It can be found on the fourth floor of the man building.

In terms of the spa, the only show in town the Eighteen Sauna, located on the 6th Floor in the Tower wing. That means guest access to sauna, Jacuzzi, hot and cold tub facilities are only available with a price. Of course those aren't the only things available at the Eighteen Sauna and I was duly rebuked by staff for snapping a pic of their poster by the elevator doors. It was definitely one of the better ones I've seen, featuring a bare breasted Asian babe sucking down a bottle of beer looking like she's ready to roll. Too bad I was forced to delete it under threat of police intervention.

The Eighteen Sauna doors stay open 24 hours.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Crazy Happy Show — I got to hand it to whoever wrote the pamphlets advertising the 'Crazy Happy Show.' They have a flair for the dramatic to their words that I almost believe, before I remember this is the same casino that outright lied about the amazing design of their ordinary casino. Anyway, there are two types of performances at the Crazy Happy Show, 'European Style Table Dance' and 'Super Erotic Dance'. I had assumed the table dance is your private show while the Super Erotic Dance is put on for the house, but I was way wrong. It turns out the table dance is your typical strip club deal featuring a girl on stage, while the Super Erotic show is a no holds barred, real sex performance featuring multiple performers. To have a show like this in Macau literally blew my mind. Maybe I ought to get out more.

I'll turn it over to the pamphlet now. The Super Erotic Show 'is not just any ordinary erotic dancing acts you find anywhere.' It's 'specially choreographed and supported by state of the art lighting and specially designed props.' It's 'the most erotic and sensual performance you've ever seen.'

It costs $300 to get into the Table Dance, while $400 gets you into both. If you pay for the table dance but then get bored and want to check out the Super Erotic Show, then you have to pay an extra $150.

Five different performances happen nightly from 6:30 PM to midnight on the 10th floor of the Tower wing. Each performance takes about 45 minutes and patrons get a free cup of tea with their door pass.

BARS

The Golden Dragon Night Club is a 'karoake bar,' open from 3 PM to 4 AM daily, on the 8th floor. Don't go there expecting to cut some tile or pick up some beauty sitting next to you at the bar, because it's just rooms and rooms of KTV. Female companionship in the way of a 'thorough relaxation,' as the Chinese like to say, runs around two grand.

SHOPPING

Golden Dragon has two shops on the ground floor of the tower wing.

Casa de Penhor Color Dragon — What's a Macau hotel without a jewelry shop? Rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets and pendants are all for sale at Casa de Penhor. Prices go from $1,000 into the $100,000's. More of their jewelry is on sale across from the gift shop but it's cheaper stuff, with prices maxing out at $25,000.

Golden Dragon Gift Shop — I'd say it's better termed a corner store than a gift shop with the items they have on sale. Beer, smokes, snacks and cake along with shampoo and soap are on display, at prices well over market. For example, I saw it was $7 for a Sprite and $20 for a small bag of chips. Anyone with any common sense would take a walk outside to get a fair deal.

SUMMARY

In the same way you sometimes just automatically 'like' a place, you can just as easily have the reverse feeling. For some reason the vibes from Golden Dragon have never sat right with me. Maybe it's because I just sense a whole lot of mediocrity in the property from top to bottom. And believe me, living in my skin, mediocrity is something I know all too well.

In short I don't see any reason to choose the Golden Dragon as a living or gambling option. Quite simply nothing the hotel does is noteworthy. The 1.1% cash back from the casino is no doubt its strongest attribute, but just like everything else about the Golden Dragon, better value can be found elsewhere.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Golden Dragon Hotel and Casino
• Address: Rua de Malaca, Macau
• Telephone :(853) 2836 1999
• Fax: (853)2836 1333
• E-mail: info *at* goldendragon.com.mo
• Website: www.goldendragon.com.mo
• Number of rooms — 438
• Number of suites — 45
• Number of tables — 55 mass gaming and 23 in the VIP clubs
• Number of slots — 0 (It was 55 but the section was empty as of August 2011)

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Macau, a special administrative region of China which borders both the South China Sea and Guangdong province, is today known as “the Monte Carlo of the Orient.” Gambling has been legal in Macau since 1847, when the Portuguese used gaming to increase revenue in what was then a colony. Today, Macau exists in a semi-independent state, with China responsible for Macau’s foreign affairs, but local officials controlling most aspects of Macau’s day-to-day operation.

History of Gambling in Macau

For much of Macau’s history, the gambling industry was run by government-sponsored monopolies. The first of these was established in 1937, when the Tai Xing Company was given full control over gaming in Macau. However, the first real growth in the local gambling industry came when in 1962, when a partnership between businessmen from Hong Kong and Macau known as the Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau – better known as STDM – was given the monopoly rights. STDM was successful in modernizing transport routes from Hong Kong, which significantly increased the size and scope of Macau’s casino industry.

This situation lasted until 2002, which the monopoly system was ended and new operators were allowed to establish a presence in Macau. Many of the world’s largest gambling corporations quickly broke into the lucrative market, including MGM Mirage, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, and the Galaxy Entertainment Group. Along with the older STDM casinos, these casinos helped make Macau the world’s largest gambling center, surpassing even the Las Vegas Strip.

Casinos in Macau

Today, there are more than 30 different casinos in Macau, with a mix of Western and traditional Chinese gambling games offered. The biggest game is one that appeals to big spenders around the world: baccarat. In recent years, poker has become more popular, with several casinos offering cash games, some of which reach limits unheard of even in the biggest poker games in Las Vegas casinos. The following is a rundown of many of the major casinos that can be found in Macau.

Casino Grand Lisboa

The Grand Lisboa opened in 2007, right next to the older Hotel Lisboa. It has recently expanded its hotel to a total of 2362 rooms, in large part to compete with the recently opened Wynn Macau, which is next to the Lisboa.

The Lisboa has a large gaming area, which features a total of more than 240 gaming tables spread out over four different floors. The gaming selection will be familiar to anyone who has been to a Las Vegas casino; all the traditional games are available, with even craps and Texas Hold’em poker tables having been added in recent years.

Like much of Macau, there’s a huge emphasis on VIP guests here. There are eight VIP rooms, most of which spread high-limit baccarat for big gamblers who aren’t afraid to throw a lot of money around.

Also notable here is PokerStars Macau, a branded poker room that hosts most of the major tournaments in the city. It’s one of only a few poker rooms in Macau, and definitely one of the best.

Update 2013: – The poker room in the Lisboa has closed since this article was written.

Casa Real Casino

Casa Real is another casino with a Portuguese flavor, owing to Macau’s colonial history. This small hotel (there are fewer than 400 rooms) has one of the newer casinos in town, but it’s also one of the smaller offerings; there are just over 120 slot machines and about 50 table games.

However, the variety of games is reasonably good. You’ll find the ever present baccarat, along with Western favorites and traditional local games like Fan-Tan.

Grandview Hotel

Located right in downtown Taipa, the Grandview Hotel and Casino offers a luxurious gaming experience. The Grandview Casino is right in the hotel lobby, and spaciously fits over 50 gaming tables. On the first floor, you can find the Grandview Slot Machine Hall, which has a small but sufficient number of slot machines and other electronic games. The atmosphere is relaxing, yet elegant.

Grandview also features plenty of special exclusive and semi-private club areas for gamblers looking for a more unique experience, such as the Golden Century VIP Rooms.

Altira Macau

Formerly known as Crown Macau, the Altira is a five-star resort that stands as the highest building in Taipa. The lobby on the 38th floor gives a spectacular view of Macau, and every room has full length windows that give similar views. The hotel, while luxurious, is rather small; there are only 216 guest rooms available.

The casino here is enormous, with 220 table games and over 500 slots making it one of the largest casinos in Macau. If you’d like to check out some of the other amenities here, you won’t be disappointed; there’s a two story spa and five great restaurants serving gourmet cuisine from around the world.

Jai Alai Casino

One of the oldest casinos in Macau, the Jai alai is the place to go if you’re looking for dank (or cheap) gaming and lodging. Compared to the luxury resorts that are now commonplace here, the Jai Alai Casino appears run-down and out of place.

That’s not to say that you can’t get your fill of gambling in the casino, though. There are over 200 slots and around 60 table games here, along with four VIP rooms for any whales who decide to play here instead of in more comfortable surroundings. For the most part, though, this is one of the few places in Macau that really appeals to the budget crowd and those who just want to gamble without any frills.

Kam Pek Casino

The Kam Pek Casino is a standalone business without an attached hotel (though there are plenty in the area if you need a place to stay, and a bridge attaches the casino directly to Hotel Lisboa). It’s a small casino, with only a couple dozen tables to play on, but it has a large VIP section that’s usually available by invitation only. The casino itself is rather nice, but the small size means it’s not exactly a must see destination.

Sands Macau

The Sands Macau was the first casino opened by a group outside of the traditional monopolies that had dominated Macau for the better part of the last century. The hotel is very small, originally featuring only 51 suites for VIP visitors; this is mainly because the Sands is marketed as a day-trip destination for Chinese gamblers, rather than as a resort hotel. There are now an additional 289 suites that are open to the public, though day- trippers are still the main clientele here.

But the small hotel should not lead you to believe that the casino is small as well. In fact, the Sands Macau is among the largest casino in the world in terms of number of table games, with about 740 tables spread out over three floors dedicated to gaming. There are also over 1,250 slot machines in the 229,000 square foot casino. If anything, some visitors find the casino overwhelming to navigate; there’s certainly no shortage of options.

If you’re looking for a VIP experience, check out the Pearl Room, which has a semi- private feel and hosts an additional 40 table games and 180 slots. The Sands also features Vegas-style restaurant options, including a new version of the Copa Steakhouse, a couple of places offering more contemporary local and Portuguese food choices, and a buffet.

Golden Dragon Casino

A high mid-range hotel (with room prices closer to what you’d expect from a top flight luxury resort), the Golden Dragon is one of the more popular spots among the older STDM-operated casinos. It’s more modern than many of the older casinos that still dot Macau, but certainly looks dated when compared to the newer Western-style casinos that have become the standard here.

The casino is reasonably sized, with nearly 100 table games and over 250 machines for you to try your luck on. Once again, there’s a lot here for VIP visitors – there are 15 special VIP rooms for those who want to gamble in peace (and for a lot of cash).

Greek Mythology Casino

Attached to the New Century Hotel, you might expect there to be a pervasive theme to a casino with a name like this one. Actually, this casino was opened in 2004 by the Greek Mythology Entertainment Group, from which it derived the somewhat awkward name.

The casino itself is one of the larger ones in Macau (currently among the five biggest in terms of gaming options), with several hundred table games and about 100 slots and video poker machines. Most of the table games are (what else?) baccarat, though other games are also available.

MGM Grand Macau

Another of the newer mega-casinos opened by Western gambling corporations, the MGM Grand Macau is actually a joint venture between MGM and Pansy Ho, the daughter of local gambling tycoon Stanley Ho. The hotel opened in 2007 and has 600 rooms available for visitors.

After a recent expansion to a second level, the MGM Grand casino floor features around 345 gaming tables and over 1,000 slot machines. As in many of the larger casinos, the MGM Grand can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming; this is likely due in no small part to the heavy emphasis on table games in Macau, which take up much more room on the casino floor than slot machines.

Wynn Macau

Steve Wynn is known for his luxurious casino creations in Las Vegas, and the Wynn Macau definitely lives up to that reputation. Opened in 2006, There are now over 1,000 rooms in total in the hotel counting both the Wynn and Encore towers. This is definitely one of the priciest locations in Macau, but with the Wynn name, that shouldn’t really come as a surprise.

We’ve mentioned the sprawling nature of many of the largest casinos in Macau, so it’s interesting to see that the Wynn tends to avoid this phenomenon. Instead, there are many smaller gaming areas that create a less cluttered, more intimate experience for gamblers. That’s not to say there aren’t an enormous number of gambling options here; there are over 200 table games and nearly 400 slots, with the typical Macau fare (baccarat, sic bo, blackjack, roulette, etc.) dominating the tables. Texas Hold’em games are available here, too.

If you’re looking for the best luxury experience in Macau, it’s hard to go wrong here. There are plenty of additional amenities offered as well, including high-end restaurants, a health club and spa, and a large retail shopping area that features prominent (and expensive) brand stores like Tiffany’s and Armani.

The Venetian Macau

The Sands owns and operates The Venetian as well, which has become the biggest attraction on the Cotai Strip. Unlike many of the major hotel-casinos in Macau, the Venetian definitely has put some emphasis on the hotel part of the equation; there are 3,000 suites here, making it a hub for tourists interested in more than just a day trip.

The complex as a whole is enormous; it’s the largest hotel in Asia, and by area, the fifth- largest building in the entire world. In addition to the hotel and casino, there are huge expanses of over 1 million square feet each devoted to a convention center and retail shopping, along with a 15,000 seat arena that can host major sports and music events.

And, of course, there’s a casino here. The massive, 550,000 square foot casino floor contains 3,400 slots and over 800 table games. Baccarat is, as always, the main attraction; however, you’ll find an excellent variety here, with most of the popular Western table games available in large numbers, as well as plenty of traditional Asian games too. This is also one of the few casinos offering live-dealer poker – mostly Texas Hold’em.

Babylon Casino

The Babylon Casino is a midsized casino that’s next to a small hotel known as The Rocks. Located at the end of Fisherman’s Wharf, it is conveniently located nearby the Hong Kong ferry terminal. There are about 100 table games that cover just about any game you could possibly want to play, plus around 120 slot machines.

Compared to the big resorts, there isn’t a lot here; the lack of a dedicated hotel also means you’ll have to leave the casino in order to have a decent meal. However, it’s certainly sizable enough for a visit, especially if you’re planning to check out Fisherman’s Wharf and want to stay away from the crowded resorts in the area. It’s convenient to just about anything you need near the ferry, too.

Grand Emperor Casino

Opened in 2006, the Grand Emperor Hotel and Casino features a boatload of gaming, as well as one of the cooler things you’ll ever see upon entering a casino: gold bars inlayed into the lobby floor. Okay, so you can’t take those home, but it’s still a pretty grand show of opulence.

The hotel is designed with luxury in mind, with a theme reminiscent of a British palace (including a daily “Changing of the Guard” ceremony/show). The standard guestrooms are gorgeously adored with regal colors and come with all the amenities you’d expect from any high-end hotel; the suites are, of course, even nicer, though you’ll have to spend a lot to stay here.

The casino actually spans a total of six floors, though you’ll need to be a high-spending VIP to gain access to the top two levels. One floor is devoted to slot machines, while the rest of the casino is covered in table games – in this case, that mainly means baccarat. Overall, the casino is geared more towards Asian gamblers rather than Western tourists.

Fortuna Casino

Once upon a time, the Fortuna Casino was a waterfront destination that catered mainly to Chinese gamblers. As more and more land has been reclaimed, the Fortuna now sits five blocks away from the ocean, but their emphasis on serving Chinese visitors is still intact. Of course, they’re open to tourists from around the world, and the hotel is actually a great value for tourists who want comfortable rooms at an affordable price.

If you want to play in the casino, though, you’d better like baccarat. There are about 35 gaming tables here, and they are packed in tight; the vast majority at any given time are playing baccarat, though you might find a blackjack game or two on occasion. There are also a few slot machines, but like most of Macau, this place definitely focuses on table games.

Rio Casino

One of four Galaxy casinos here in Macau, this one is a mid-range hotel/casino that looks attractive from the outside, but doesn’t have too much flash in the building. There are around 450 rooms, most of which are fairly affordable and clean, if not particularly noteworthy.

The Rio Casino features about 80 gaming tables and 150 slot machines (plus a few VIP rooms), with an emphasis on baccarat. However, there is plenty of blackjack to be found, along with roulette tables as well, so it’s not completely dominated by Macau’s baccarat obsession. One thing worth mentioning is that, according to most who have been there, this isn’t a popular spot for English-speaking visitors; most of the traffic comes from
Asia.

Galaxy Starworld

Galaxy Starworld is one of the most popular casinos in Macau, attracting both Western and Chinese visitors in droves. It opened in 2006, and is located right next to the Wynn, making a potent combination on Avenida de Amizade. There are just over 500 rooms, all of which are fairly luxurious. The Starworld also has a reputation for having an excellent and responsive staff.

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Along with having nearly 250 tables and 500 slot machines, Starworld is also one of the few casinos to offer live poker games – including, on occasion, the ridiculously high- limit tables that attract professional players and rich businessmen looking for thrills. In fact, Starworld was the first casino in Macau to offer any form of poker, though originally, it utilized electronic PokerTek tables.

There has been one complaint against the Starworld that we’ve seen a lot of: apparently, the casino reeks of smoke. If the smell of smoke bothers you, this is probably a place to avoid.

Galaxy Waldo Hotel and Casino

The Galaxy Waldo is a fairly small casino, though renovations in 2007 did increase the size somewhat. There are now around 160 rooms available in this mid-priced hotel which is located near the ferry terminal.

The main casino takes up two floors, with about 60 gaming tables – once again, mostly baccarat with a smattering of other games – and around 100 slot machines. There are several options for VIP players too, including the Premium Baccarat Room and several semi-private rooms on separate floors. Generally, the casino doesn’t cater to Western tourists; it’s more a place for Chinese mainland visitors.

Grand Waldo Casino

Out on the Cotai Strip (and soon to be joined by the Galaxy Macau next door), the Grand Waldo is Galaxy’s first entry into the flashy strip area. There are only slightly over 300 rooms available here, but they are definitely on the luxury side; there are two dozen VIP Suites surrounded by a rooftop garden for those really looking to experience Macau in style.

Like the other Waldo Casino, this one is definitely designed with the high roller in mind. However, it’s large enough to also contain around 100 table games in the general gambling area, along with plenty of slots and other machine games. For VIP players, there are decorated suites on different floors that allow them to stay away from the noise from all the commoners on the main floor.

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Pharaoh’s Palace Casino/Legend Club (Landmark Hotel)

The Landmark Hotel on the Avenida de Amizade is host to two different casinos: the Pharoh’s Palace, which has an Egyptian theme, and the Legend Club. The hotel itself has around 450 rooms, including several luxury suites that are even more expensive than the already pricy standard rooms.

The Pharaoh’s Palace has about 100 table games and nearly 400 slots on a relatively small and crowded casino floor, while the Legend Club adds another dozen tables and about 100 slots. Baccarat is once again the big attraction, but blackjack and other games can be found too. One controversial feature here is their “members only” policy that requires a membership in order to play in the casino. Alone, that wouldn’t be such a big deal; however, you’ll need to present a passport in order to become a member, which some visitors may not be comfortable doing.

Ponte 16 Casino

Located on the edge of the Inner Harbor, Ponte 16 is one of the newest hotel casinos in Macau, having opened in 2008. This luxury five-star resort features 389 rooms in total, along with 19 apartments, all of which are outfitted with top-of-the-line amenities. There are some really unique things here, too, including the MJ Gallery – described as “the first and only Michael Jackson Gallery in Asia.” If you want to see some interesting memorabila from the King of Pop’s career, this is the place to go!

The casino is massive, with over 270,000 square feet of gaming. Unlike some of the other large casinos, Ponte 16 has used this size to make itself spacious, rather than cram as many tables as possible onto the floor; there are 109 tables along with 300 slot machines, plus a couple of VIP-only halls for visiting whales.

City of Dreams Casino

At the time of this writing, the City of Dreams is the newest addition to the Cotai Strip, having opened in the summer of 2009. There are three separate hotels contained in the facility, including a Hard Rock Hotel, a Crown Towers Hotel, and the two-tower Grand Hyatt Macau. There’s no shortage of things to do in the City of Dreams, even if you’re not a gambler; there are two levels of retail space in an area known as “The Boulevard,” the world’s largest in-the-round water show in the new Dragone Theatre, and a huge projection show known as The Dragon’s Treasure.” Despite all the attractions, however, this isn’t one of the most luxurious spots in Macau; it’s geared to a wider audience, albeit one that’s willing to spend a decent amount of money while they’re here.

Casino Jai Alai Hotel Macau

Of course, there’s no shortage of gaming in the City of Dreams either. The 420,000 square foot casino features 550 table games and around 1,500 slots and other machine games. There’s a pretty heavy emphasis on popular Asian games (would you be shocked to hear that baccarat is the most prominent offering?), but with the size of the casino, you can find just about anything if you look hard enough. The Hard Rock Hotel also features one of the few poker rooms in Macau, and is sometimes known to host extremely high- limit cash games.