Blick auf den Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center, die auch als der Macau Tower, in Macau, China, 19. Januar 2015 bekannt. Macau ¨C jetzt erkannt
View of the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, also known as the Macau Tower, in Macau, China, 19 January 2015. Macau ¨C now recognized as the No.1 gambling revenue locale in the world ¨C has had another record year, with a $45 billion intake in 2013, a number that represents an 18.6 percent jump from the year prior. And despite the fact that Las Vegas' improvements from the year before were actually a bit higher than this, percentage-wise, Macau continues to beat out the American gambling mecca by a seven-times-greater input annually. But while past years' growth was largely attributed to the mega-wealthy Chinese whales who came to the Chinese special administrative district to play at opulent casinos such as the Venetian Macao or Galaxy Macau, the most recent year's upswing has been more thanks to the common man, i.e., China's middle class and their new access to the neighboring gambling kingdom. Most credit for this influx of the masses goes to an ever-growing high-speed rail system, as well as a 38 billion yuan (US$6, 216, 291, 171) connective bridge that ties together Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai on China's mainland, which has vastly reduced access time to Macau. That reality, in turn, is allowing for many more day and brief trip travellers to come and spend their money at Macau's casinos; new attractions going up in nearby Hengqin Island are also helping to draw larger crowds.
