Macau beats Las Vegas numbers

April 6, 2007

In online gambling news today…As reported by an Australian news paper, Macao is saying that says it has surpassed the Las Vegas Strip as the world's largest casino gambling draw, raking in more than US$7 billion ($8.58 billion) in 2006.

The small southern Asia area’s twenty two mostly newer casinos generated 16.7 billion (Macau money) in the final quarter of 2006, taking the year's total gross gambling earnings to an impressive 56.2 billion ($8.83 billion US).

By comparison, the approximate forty casinos on Las Vegas' famous Strip (this is including the lavish Venetian, Wynn and MGM resorts) earned $6.6 billion (US) ($8.09 billion Macau).

Macao's new beginning from a crime laden area with a meager ands somewhat seedy gambling income was basically started by the Las Vegas Sands company, which opened the Macao Sands 3 years ago.

Other big American names to have taken advantage of the relaxed regulatory environment are Steve Wynn's resorts and MGM.

Gaming analysts noted back in October 2006 that Macau had perhaps surpassed the desert Mecca of Las Vegas. That information was based on gambling earnings projections.

However, with the newly released information (GDP figures) it is actually the first time that city officials have confirmed the big news.

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