Macao's rise as the gambling capital of the world

Group 1 - The core focus of Macau's gaming industry is shifting towards non-gaming amenities, with Las Vegas Sands investing over $2 billion in the Londoner project and a collective commitment of $15 billion from major operators for the next decade, with at least 90% allocated for non-gaming facilities [2][4] - Macau's government aims to diversify its economy into a broader tourism and entertainment destination, with visitation expected to reach approximately 39 million this year, although gambling remains the primary profit driver [3][4] - CitiGroup has raised its expectations for Macau's gross gaming revenue to $33.3 billion for the year, reflecting a 10% year-on-year growth, an increase from a previous target of 7% [5] Group 2 - The competition for Macau includes other global gambling centers, particularly Singapore, which attracted high rollers during Macau's pandemic-related border closures [6][7] - High rollers have returned to Macau, but there is a growing interest among younger Chinese clientele in non-gambling attractions such as Michelin-starred restaurants and entertainment events, which is contributing to increased gambling activity [8]