With the monopoly on ownership of casinos in Macau lifted, seasoned, corporate American casinos are pouring into Macau, giving the industry a much needed face-lift. Formerly controlled by Stanley Ho, the new guys in town include The Sands, The Venitian, MGM, Wynn, and several others. They are literally making the front part of Macau into a strip similar to Las Vegas. Construction is everywhere.
The charm of old Macau, with its slow winding streets, and alleyways can still be found. However, luxury condos catering to future high-rollers, mostly projected to come from Mainland China, are beginning to encroach on the borders of the city.
Taking a page from Las Vegas, Macau is reinventing itself, with all sorts of weird semi-historic concoctions. On a recent trip I walked around the main part of the city, and shot some of the new buildings going up. Some of them are interesting looking.
The former face of gambling in Macau, Stanley Ho’s Casino Lisboa:
On my walk, I stumbled across some cool graffiti and an old shop covered in gears, cogs and springs – there’s still culture to be found!
Click on the image below to get a close-up!
