When planning your ultimate casino escape, the first thing you will have to decide is the destination. Two world-known casino paradises are Las Vegas and Macau. While Las Vegas is the western, much traditional choice, featured in movies and prominent in popular culture, Macau is an oriental up and coming choice, perfect for new money!
A visible distinction between the two, which visitors will notice soon enough, is that Macau has a “fresher” feel in that it has been developed more recently. While the port of Macau was known even to the ancient Romans, it has become a casino gamblers’ darling as late as the 2000s, after China formally claimed sovereignty of the peninsula in 1999.
Las Vegas, although constantly developed further and renewed, it has a more “worn” feel to it. Some will say the difference lies in the symbols these two cities represent: on the one hand, the rising of Asian economies, while on the other Las Vegas seems to be following a fashion-like cycle, where styles and trends are coming and going, and the allure of the Nevada metropolis is certainly no exception!
What about the casinos? There are obvious differences in style and regulations. Whereas in Las Vegas people gambles mostly for the sake of entertainment and recreational fun, gambling in Macau is not as much about the sports and fun as it is about investment, with people dressing up more and showing off their personal wealth. One can argue, of course, that this is more an issue of Asian society generally wanting to advertise their own status among the new rich, as opposed to a more casual American lifestyle.
If you are new to offline casino destinations, many will argue that Las Vegas should be your first choice. This means acknowledging the importance and the role of this classic casino hub. There are many references to Las Vegas in popular culture such as music, movies and games, and to fully grasp those, a trip to Las Vegas is inevitable. That said, the real gambler and casino lover should definitely visit both!
