Stanley Ho may have lost his 40-year monopoly on casinos in Macau but he has not stopped competing. Today, January 5 2005, sees the opening of his 14th casino in Macau – the Golden Dragon. Ho also has plans for two further casinos this year, one at the Hotel Presidente and the other at the Hotel Fortuna. So far there are only two other casinos in the city, Sands Macau and Galaxy Waldo, but Wynn Resorts should start operations next year.

Last year Macau’s gaming industry revenues were around $5 billion, up some 40% on the previous year. This year a further increase is anticipated and the Chinese government gets 35% of the revenues in gaming taxes. The gaming industry is shining so brightly in Macau that Hong Kong was recently reprimanded by the Chinese premier for showing up badly in comparison. As Macau is the only place in the People’s Republic of China that has legal casinos, the comparison would seem to be unfair.

The Golden Dragon (Dragao Dourado or Kam Lung in Portuguese and Chinese) has 70 gaming tables and 123 slot machines. Traditionally the Chinese have preferred the gaming tables to the banks of slot machines known locally as ‘hungry tigers’. Last month Ho opened the Mythology Casino, one of the largest operations in Macau, with 228 tables in its first phase and a planned additional 272 tables in time for the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster that commences on February 9th. The Mythology is on Taipa Island at the New Century Hotel, whereas the Golden Dragon is situated near the Hong Kong ferry terminal.

The new casino is themed on carnivals, the Chinese dragon being very evident at most Chinese festivals. Unlike the western perceptions of dragons, to the Chinese they are symbols of good fortune, power, perseverance and nobility with characteristics of intelligence, optimism and courage. The Golden Dragon Casino will hopefully bring good fortune to its customers in the six VIP rooms decorated to portray the carnivals in Rio, Trinidad, Paris, New Orleans, Venice and China. The inaugural party at the casino should be as good as any carnival.

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