Macau is the indisputable gambling capital of Asia and one of the continent’s most popular gambling destinations. More than 30 casinos with a combined value of billions of dollars inhabit this region. Exotic casino names like The Venetian or Wynn Macau provide ample allure for passionate players looking to expand their experiences.
Beyond the seemingly endless array of gambling options, Macau is a general entertainment and shopping destination for hordes of tourists every year. The island is also renowned for its range of fine-dining restaurants, making it a versatile and enjoyable destination for travelers. The island’s entertainment and tourism industries are, however under serious threat by the Coronavirus Pandemic that has spread across the globe at a highly concerning rate over the last few months.
Land casino visitation down 70%
Compared to the previous year, there has been a massive downturn in visits to brick-and-mortar casinos in Macau. Casinos on the island have experienced a 70 percent drop in visitation to date. Macau is an autonomous region off the south coast of China and its proximity to the country of origin of COVID-19 as well as the overall global response to the spread of the virus have created an unfortunate decline in visits to the island. The social-distancing measure that has been adopted across the planet limits the number of people that can be gathered in any particular space at a time and has caused even a major economy like China to grind to halt. The effect on land-based casinos is obvious.
The virus has provided a clear and unambiguous message to Chinese and other Asian markets to accelerate the process to legalize online gambling. Restricted travel options and mandatory quarantines in China could compel its government to relook their stance on the legality of online gambling. In the Philippines, online gambling is legal and players unable to visit Macau have scratched their itch by visiting online casinos.
Online gambling engagement numbers are up 90 percent compared to last year. This dramatic figure has spurred many land-based casino operators to consider the migration to an online platform, an already-rising trend that is sure to see a serious upward trajectory in the months to come.
Many casinos in Macau have re-opened and continue to operate, following a 15-day shutdown; however, many venues have remained closed, citing the absence of tourists on the island.
The virus has caused the closure of casinos, restaurants, bars, pubs, theatres and other entertainment venues all around the world, so if you are used to going out to entertain yourself, you may need a strategy to stave off boredom in these trying times.
A world surviving self-Isolation
Australia has close to 600 confirmed COVID-19 at the time of this article being written. Plenty of Australians have fully embraced social distancing, in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. This means a lot of indoor-time for Aussies with a 14 day lockdown period in effect. Some individuals can continue working from home remotely, but for others, this is a great chance for family time or to pick up on long-abandoned personal projects or resolutions.
Casino enthusiasts may be experiencing a particularly challenging time substituting for their primary source of entertainment so this is an excellent time to check out real-money online casinos and experience the astounding range of games with alluring bonuses for first-timers.
The world of online casinos can be intimidating to newcomers due to the sheer scale of the range of options available. This site contains an ever-expanding database of casino reviews and rankings to greatly simplify your foray into online gambling. The casinos listed have been selected according to their safety, reliability and entertainment value. The listed casinos are constantly checked to ensure that they are maintaining the highest possible quality of player safety and standards.
Staying at home doesn’t have to be a torturous, boring experience. Many individuals and industries are finding ways to adjust to a world doing its best to halt the spread of a pandemic and online gambling is a great way for you if you normally spend your free time at brick-and-mortar casinos. While self-isolation can be inconvenient, it is a necessary measure to ensure that humanity can eventually return to normal. So, stay home, stay safe and don’t forget to check out our fully vetted list of online casinos to fulfill your entertainment needs.
