In welcher Stadt der Welt wird am meisten Geld durch Gluecksspiel umgesetzt? Nein liebe Leser, es ist nicht Las Vegas, sondern die Sonderverwaltungszone Macau der Volksrepublik China. Dieser Ort nur eine Stunde mit der Faehre von Hong Kong entfernt, ist einer der verwirrendsten ueberhaupt. Im alten Kern der ehemaligen portugiesischen Kolonie findet man exakt die selben Kopfsteinpflaster und Pastellaria wie in Lissabon, nur dass hier Chinesen durch die Gassen schlendern. Weiter Richtung Hafen blenden einen die Neonlichter der grossen Spielcasinos. Macau ist die einzige Stadt in China, die das Gluecksspiel erlaubt. Entsprechend voll sind die rund 30 Spielhoellen rund um die Uhr. Vom nostalgischen Casino Lisboa mit 60er-jahre Charme bis zum venezianischen Luxuskomplex mit 3000 Hotelsuiten und Indoor-Kanal mit singenden Gondolieres findet sich alles, was das Spielerherz begehrt. Anders als in Las Vegas herrscht an den Spieltischen jedoch stets eine ernste Atmosphaere. So ernten wir einige krumme Blicke, als wir bei einer kleinen Cancan-Tanzeinlage den beinschwingenden Damen enthusiastisch applaudieren. Und einen trauenden Elvis gibt es auch nicht.
Which city in the world makes the biggest amount of money by gambling? No, dear readers, it's not Las Vegas, it's Macau, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. This place, only an hour away from Hong Kong by ferry, is one of the most bewildering of all. In the old center of the former Portugese colony you find exactly the same cobbled streets and pastries as in Lissabon, the only being the Chinese strolling through the alleys. Further down towards the harbour the neonlights of the big casinos are enlightening the roads. Macau is the only city in China where gambling is legal. Given this facts it's not surprising to find more than 30 casinos packed any time of the day. From the nostalgic Casino Lisboa with it's 60s charme to the venetian luxury complex with 3000 suites and an indoor canal with singing gongolieres there is everything to fulfill a gambler's needs. Unlike in Las Vegas there's a very serious atmosphere around the gambling tables. We earned a lot of bewildered stares as we were applauding enthusiastically after a small cancan-dance performance of some leggy women. And there is no wedding Elvis either.
Which city in the world makes the biggest amount of money by gambling? No, dear readers, it's not Las Vegas, it's Macau, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. This place, only an hour away from Hong Kong by ferry, is one of the most bewildering of all. In the old center of the former Portugese colony you find exactly the same cobbled streets and pastries as in Lissabon, the only being the Chinese strolling through the alleys. Further down towards the harbour the neonlights of the big casinos are enlightening the roads. Macau is the only city in China where gambling is legal. Given this facts it's not surprising to find more than 30 casinos packed any time of the day. From the nostalgic Casino Lisboa with it's 60s charme to the venetian luxury complex with 3000 suites and an indoor canal with singing gongolieres there is everything to fulfill a gambler's needs. Unlike in Las Vegas there's a very serious atmosphere around the gambling tables. We earned a lot of bewildered stares as we were applauding enthusiastically after a small cancan-dance performance of some leggy women. And there is no wedding Elvis either.
Spielen rund um die Uhr - gambling 24/7
Gondoliere im "The venetian" unter kuenstlichem Himmel - Gondoliere at "The venetian" under a fake sky
Kolonialherrschaft und Kapitalismus - colonial rule and capitalism
Portugiesisch-asiatische Mischung - portuguese-asian fusion
Der Hinterhof Macaus - Macau's backyard
Wie die "normalen" Leute leben - how "normal" people live
