10 things to know before visiting Macau

Kate Whitehead, for CNN
6 minute read
Updated 5:50 AM EDT, Thu October 3, 2013
Baccarat is by far the most popular game in Macau. It's a relatively simple game with a low house advantage (less than 1%). Baccarat tables dominate Macau's 33 casinos.
1. Baccarat is the game of choice —
Baccarat is by far the most popular game in Macau. It's a relatively simple game with a low house advantage (less than 1%). Baccarat tables dominate Macau's 33 casinos.
MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images
The Portuguese settled in Macau in the 16th century and the island was handed back to China in 1999. Today, it's a Special Administrative Region (SAR) and is governed under the "one country, two systems" principal, which was the brainchild of late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
2. It was the first /last European colony in China —
The Portuguese settled in Macau in the 16th century and the island was handed back to China in 1999. Today, it's a Special Administrative Region (SAR) and is governed under the "one country, two systems" principal, which was the brainchild of late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
FREDERIC BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
There are lots of people -- locals and tourists -- in a small place. You will be photo bombed.
3. It's the world's most densely populated place —
There are lots of people -- locals and tourists -- in a small place. You will be photo bombed.
LAURENT FIEVET/AFP/Getty Images
While the rest of Macau is flooded with casino lights, Coloane is almost a backwater belonging to locals.
4. Coloane is still chill —
While the rest of Macau is flooded with casino lights, Coloane is almost a backwater belonging to locals.
CNN
A big pat on the government's back for applying for UNESCO World Heritage status before the big, modern casinos started rolling in.
5. Heritage is here to stay —
A big pat on the government's back for applying for UNESCO World Heritage status before the big, modern casinos started rolling in.
cultural de governo da r.a.r. de macau
Macanese cuisine is unique to Macau and combines the best of Chinese and Portuguese ingredients and cooking along with influences from Brazil, Goa and other former Portuguese colonies. Bacalhau (salted codfish, pictured) is one of the most popular dishes.
6. Macanese cuisine is fusion food —
Macanese cuisine is unique to Macau and combines the best of Chinese and Portuguese ingredients and cooking along with influences from Brazil, Goa and other former Portuguese colonies. Bacalhau (salted codfish, pictured) is one of the most popular dishes.
CNN
Shown here not living up to his nickname (Broken Tooth), Macau's biggest crime boss Wan Kuok-koi was released from prison in December 2012.
7. Broken Tooth is out and about —
Shown here not living up to his nickname (Broken Tooth), Macau's biggest crime boss Wan Kuok-koi was released from prison in December 2012.
LAURENT FIEVET/AFP/Getty Images
The 91-year-old Macau casino tycoon, Stanley Ho, is a living proof of longevity in Macau.
8. It's a city of longevity —
The 91-year-old Macau casino tycoon, Stanley Ho, is a living proof of longevity in Macau.
Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Locals rarely visit the casinos to gamble and government employees are forbidden from gambling here. The overwhelming majority of gamblers are from mainland China and Hong Kong.
9. One in five locals work in a casino —
Locals rarely visit the casinos to gamble and government employees are forbidden from gambling here. The overwhelming majority of gamblers are from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Lam Yik Fei/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The sand isn't as black as it used to be. Erosion was gradually chipping away at the beach so the government decided to top up the beach, but the replacement sand is yellow, which has muted the dark sand.
10. Hac Sa Beach has black sand ... sort of —
The sand isn't as black as it used to be. Erosion was gradually chipping away at the beach so the government decided to top up the beach, but the replacement sand is yellow, which has muted the dark sand.
Macau Government Tourist Office
10 things to know before visiting Macau

Story highlights

It's the gambling capital of the world, but there are plenty of ways to spend your winnings or forget about your losings

Macanese cuisine combines Chinese and Portuguese styles

Macau is the world's most densely populated place

Residents have one of the world's highest life expectancy rates

CNN  — 

It’s been six years – 2007, if you’re into counting numbers – since the once sleepy fishing port of Macau surpassed Las Vegas as the world leader in gambling revenue.

We love the flash. And the occasional winning night at the tables.

But there’s a slower side to this city of just less than 600,000 residents in southern China, one of cobblestone lanes, colonial mansions, art deco buildings and tranquil parks, all done in a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese motifs.

The best part is that Macau (just an hour from Hong Kong by ferry) is compact, making it a breeze to explore.

Here’s a primer.

1. Baccarat is the game of choice

Macau is the gambling capital of the world.

By far the most popular game is baccarat, a relatively simple game with a low house advantage (less than 1%). Baccarat tables dominate the city’s 33 casinos.

There are plenty of slot machines as well, but they offer a high house advantage and aren’t popular. This is the reverse of Las Vegas where gamblers favor slots.

Macau’s revenue from gambling is $33 billion, more than five times that of the Las Vegas Strip.

Tycoon Stanley Ho’s 40-year reign as the city’s casino kingpin came to an end in 2002 when the Macau government ended the monopoly system.

Today, there are six casino operators: SJM Holdings (Stanley Ho), Wynn Macau, Sands China, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM China Holdings and Melco Crown Entertainment.

2. Macau was the first and last European colony in China

The Portuguese settled in Macau in the 16th century and the island was handed back to China in 1999.