Image source: Pixabay
Macau has a long history as a Portuguese trading post, going back to the 16th century. It has been under Chinese control since 1999 when it became a special administrative region of China. Today, Macau is best known for its casinos and gambling culture. The city hosts many luxurious mega-resorts that cater to high-rollers and wealthy tourists who come from all over the world. But how did this small port city become so famous for casino resorts? Let’s take a look at some movies that helped change the look at casino culture in Macau.
Macau Gambling Capital of the World
Macau is a port city located on the southern coast of China, about 40 miles west of Hong Kong. Macau was a colony of Portugal from 1557 until 1999 when it was returned to China. It has since been granted special administrative region (SAR) status and remains one of the most important tourist destinations in Asia.
Macau’s economy depends heavily upon gaming revenues, which visitors can enjoy at more than 30 casinos and online casinos throughout the city’s multiple districts. In the same way that many other countries around the globe started their online casino markets and rely on their revenues. With more and more casino fans playing their favourite online casino games at the best casino sites recommended at TerraCasinoNZ, online gambling grows worldwide. And players use review sites in NZ to read detailed online casino reviews and find the best online casino sites in NZ. Still, Macau remains a land-based gambling destination. Macau’s casino industry — not including other gambling services such as horse racing or keno — is estimated to make up 52 per cent of the city’s gross domestic product (GDP). People usually call it Asia’s Monte Carlo or the Las Vegas of the East. The newest addition to this list is the Londoner Macao – a $2 bn British-themed casino resort that opened in 2023.
Before the 1960s, Macau wasn’t considered a tourist destination; it was instead known for its role as an export port and commercial centre under Portuguese rule. After Portugal handed Macau over to China in 1999, casinos quickly sprang up across the city. Today, more than 35 casinos operate in Macau, which collectively boast over 60,000 slot machines and over 2,500 gaming tables (more than any other city in Asia).
The result? Macau has become known as the Las Vegas of Asia–a gambling destination where people can go to play blackjack or roulette at one of many luxury hotels with high-end restaurants on the premises (or simply walk down the street while enjoying some street food).
Moreover, things changed when several Hollywood movies were shot there and showed Macau in a different light: glamorous and luxurious. These gambling films helped change viewers’ perceptions about this tiny peninsula off China’s southern coast.
Movies that Changed the Look at the Casino Culture in Macau
Macau is the Asian gambling capital of the world, but how did it get that way? It all started with a movie. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) was filmed in Macau. This film was followed by many other movies filmed in Macau, which eventually brought it to fame. These movies helped change the way people around the globe looked at casino culture in Macau.
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
The Man with the Golden Gun is a 1974 British spy film, the ninth Bond film from Eon Productions, and the second to star Roger Moore in the role of MI6 agent James Bond.
A huge blockbuster at its time of release, it helped Macau gain international recognition as one of Asia’s most popular destinations for gambling enthusiasts. In fact, one scene in particular – where Bond visits an underground casino located on board a boat (known as “The Floating Palace”) – helped define how we see this city today: full of flashing lights and high-stake gambling!
The actual brick-and-mortar casino has since closed down, but both moviegoers and gamblers were captivated by its unique look and atmosphere at that time, so much so that Daniel Craig returned forty years later to Macau for his latest role as 007.
Now You See Me 2: The Second Act (2016)
The movie is about a team of illusionists who perform bank heists during their performances. Featuring stars like Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo, the movie boasts an array of popular film celebrities. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine also appear in this sequel to 2013’s Now You See Me.
A worldwide hit, Now You See Me, was released in 2013, and it came as no surprise that a sequel rode the success wave three years later in 2016. The masterful heist performed by the Four Horsemen in The Second Act is sure to keep you guessing until its final moments! Some of the epic scenes in this gambling movie were shot in Macau, portraying the place as a real gambling hotspot.
Fun fact: Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, which makes it a very popular destination for tourists and gamblers!
Skyfall (2012)
In 2012, James Bond was sent to Macau in order to protect an important banker from a villainous cyberterrorist. The movie’s plot mainly takes place at night and shows many casinos with their bright lights shining into the sky.
Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, which makes it a very popular destination for tourists and gamblers alike. It also has some of the most luxurious casinos in Asia. However, none of those casinos were featured in Skyfall! Instead, we see some generic-looking buildings which were actually created using computer graphics (CGI), so they looked like actual casinos but really weren’t real ones at all – talk about an elaborate set design!
With over $1 billion earned worldwide thus far since its release back on November 1st 2012, this James Bond movie continues to have a lasting impact. It is still being watched by millions around the globe each year while ranking among the Top 30 highest-grossing films ever made thus far too! So it is no wonder Macau has become so popular because of it.
Conclusion
Casino culture hasn’t always been popular in Macau, and it wasn’t until the arrival of Hollywood that casinos started to look like the ones we see today. The opening of MGM Grand in 2007 was a turning point for the industry and gave rise to more glamorous designs that incorporated elements such as chandeliers, fountains and statuesque sculptures. Today there are nearly 40 casinos in Macau which offer everything from baccarat tables, slot machines and poker tournaments – all within walking distance from one another! And we can thank these movies for bringing fame to this autonomous region in China.
