Macau is the irrefutable capital of gambling on the Asian continent, as well as one of the most popular gambling destinations on the planet. With more than 30 casinos worth billions of dollars in total and distinct names like The Venetian or Wynn Macau that spark the imagination of the most passionate players in the world, there is no wonder Macau is such a popular gambling destination. Surprisingly, it's not all about the huge casino halls where you can enjoy thousands of games ranging from basic slot machines to poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. What drives millions of people here every year is also the impressive number of entertainment options, as well as the luxury shopping sprees people can engage in, not to mention the fine dining. The small island that hosts these out-of-this-world entertainment hubs, however, seems to be seriously jeopardised by the coronavirus pandemic that has gradually taken over the world starting at the end of 2019.
Macau Land Casino Visitors are Down 70%
Compared to the previous year, there has been a significant drop of 70 percent in the usually packed brick-and-mortar casinos in Macau. Given the fact that the virus has spread from Wuhan, China, the dramatic drop in people's interest to come here and engage in their regular gambling activities is easy to understand. Plus, the mandatory social distancing that the country has adopted as a way of limiting the coronavirus cases has also forced the second-largest economy on the planet to shut down for a while. Since land casinos gather huge numbers of people in enclosed spaces, the logic behind the measures cannot be disputed and they automatically fell victim to the circumstances. However, the same virus could also be used as a serious wake-up call for Chinese and other Asian markets to speed up the online gambling legalisation process. The highly restrictive travel decisions and the mandatory quarantines that were imposed in the country as well as the rest of the world could force the Chinese government to consider allowing online gambling to become legal. One example of the effects of the coronavirus on the Asian gambling market comes from the Philippines. Online gambling is legal here and this has attracted an impressive number of players who would otherwise visit the land casinos in Macau. The numbers cannot be denied: online gambling on a regular, daily basis is up 90 percent compared to last year's New Year holiday in China. The figure is so impressive that it seriously raises the matter of whether brick-and-mortar casino operators should make the switch to virtual gambling. Given the fact that land casinos migrating to the online industry appears to be an ascending trend, we can expect to see more exciting alternatives to choose from soon enough. Asian land-based operators are getting almost no business these days. While many casinos in Macau continue to be open after the coronavirus outbreak, following a 15-day shutdown, many venues did not want to get back in business because of the small number of tourists. Land casinos along with restaurants, bars, pubs, theatres, and other entertainment venues around the world have also been shut down because of the coronavirus threat, which is why more and more people are looking for equally fun alternatives. Here are a few ideas that we recommend for you in these troubled times.


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