Beyond Casinos: Discovering Macao’s Unique Culture

Nurse-in-training Vivian Lai explained her yearly visit to Macao’s casinos during Chinese New Year as a tradition for good luck in the coming year, regardless of whether she wins or loses. The city has been referred to as the “Las Vegas of Asia” due to its status as the only place in greater China where gambling is legal and home to major gaming companies such as MGM Resorts International’s MGM Cotai hotel complex and Sands China Limited’s Venetian Macao casino resort. However, locals like Lai and eighth-generation resident Marina Fernandes do not share the same enthusiasm for casinos, with many civil servants banned from entering them altogether. Instead, they prefer to explore other aspects of their unique culture that blend Portuguese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian influences. Macao’s small size has led it to implement strict work policies for foreigners who wish to live there permanently after seven years, but Filipinos often find themselves unable to obtain citizenship or permanent residency unless they marry a local. Despite the city’s reputation as a hub of gambling and high-end consumerism due to its close proximity to China’s Guangdong province, Macao has also been working on promoting tourism in other areas beyond casinos by partnering them with specific streets and shops. Locals recommend that visitors explore more than just the city’s center and instead get lost in its alleys as well.