It was a sentence to cause pause for thought. Writing for the Guardian from Macau, Jonathon Watts quoted Glenn McCartney, a lecturer, pub owner and honorary British Consul who has lived in Macau since 1997: “I don’t like to say that Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia because it is different – Las Vegas came out of the desert, but this is a place with history, where people have lived for generations.” Macau contains China’s largest group of historical properties and is officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique east-west cultural heritage, but all that could be in danger of disappearing under a barrage of high voltage lighting and fake Venices.

Whatever the concerns of Mr McCartney and others like him, most of the 22 million tourists who visited Macau last year came to gamble. The brash new buildings mushrooming everywhere are bringing the Las Vegas concept of spectacular temples of gambling that sparkle at night but look somewhat tawdry by day. Beneath the altered skyline of Macau is the local community that seems to be caught under a tidal wave of foreign investment, increasingly bringing it problems along with the money and job opportunities.

It is a different casino concept in Singapore. The government there was clear from the start, gambling was to be a minor part of the only two permitted integrated resorts. They also demanded that the projects must be for an iconic lifestyle development, and complement the business and financial image of Marina Bay and the tropical island terrain of Sentosa Island. The government is betting that two casino resorts in Singapore will enable it to retain its reputation as a cosmopolitan hub and revitalise the tourist industry.

In a curious way the future casino industries of Macau and Singapore are growing together from opposite starting points. Singapore’s strait-laced and squeaky clean law-abiding image contrasts radically with Macau’s association with Triad gangsters, prostitution and money laundering. Both places are now aiming to arrive at the same place – booming entertainment and convention business backed by the lucrative gambling industry. Macau is cleaning up its act, Singapore is loosening its girdle, and it remains to be seen if either or both do lose the essence of their own unique character under the prevalent Las Vegas influence. (E-07.20.07)

© Copyright 2007 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage