The numbers are staggering: Macau’s gambling revenue rose from $2 billion in 2001 to $6.95 billion in 2006, and this year analysts predict a take of $8 billion. Las Vegas took in $6.5 billion in 2006. Why is Macau booming? According to a New York Times story, liberalized Chinese travel policies have helped spur growth. 

Macau’s rise has also had a ripple effect.

“Macao’s success has led neighboring regions to rethink their own tourism strategies,” the Times reports. “For instance, Singapore is going ahead with plans to build its own casino resort, and even Hong Kong officials have talked about bringing gambling to the territory.”

Here’s another amazing stat about Macau’s growth: “On average, its gambling tables pull in about seven times what the tables in Las Vegas do,” according to the Times. “The winnings are a testament to how serious the gamblers are in this part of the world, despite the fact that per capita income in China is just $1,700 a year.”

Macau’s role as a leader in world tourism will only grow as spin-offs of Las Vegas properties pop up in the former Portuguese colony. The Sands Macau and the Wynn Macau already exist, and the Venetian Macau is on the way.

Now someone in Las Vegas just needs give the Imperial Palace a makeover or erect a Macau-themed resort. Seems inevitable, doesn’t it?

Photo of Macau Tower from Macau Tourism.