Casino News

New Las Vegas Sands casino 'will transform Macao'

2007-08-17 13:30:39

The new Venetian Macao casino will transform the Chinese gambling enclave from a gambling den into an elegant resort, a leading businessman has said.

William Weidner, president of Las Vegas Sands, which is behind the new casino complex, predicts that it will become an international destination.

The casino, which opens this month, comprises luxury shops, restaurants, 1.2 million sq ft of convention space, hotels and gaming rooms.

Mr Weidner said: "The Venetian represents that first massive step in changing Macau from primarily a day-trip market focused on Hong Kong and Guangdong province to a full-fledged international, multi-day, multifaceted destination resort."

He went on to say that the casino's launch would be the equivalent to decades of Las Vegas history happening at once.

"It's like truncating the 76 years of development of Las Vegas into one place under one roof."

This is the second Macao venture for Las Vegas Sands, which opened its first resort there in May 2004.

Earlier this year, Playboy Enterprises announced it intended to cash in on Macao's success by building a replica of the Playboy Mansion on the former Portuguese colony.