Macau looks to online gambling
1st May, 2008
Fears of overcrowding in the bustling casino centre of Macau have prompted Chinese officials to liberalise restrictions on remote internet gambling.
The semi-autonomous exclave is the only region of China where casino gambling is legal, leading to runaway growth of the gaming industry in recent times.
Casino revenues in Macau rose by 11 per cent last year, and Las Vegas Sands also recently opened the world's largest casino in the special administrative region.
Seeking to build on those gains without overheating the local economy, Chinese officials are now looking to introduce remote internet gambling facilities that will ease the strain on capacity.
Plans are said to focus on the newly-developed Roulabette gaming system, which relies on video relays to let patrons play physical casino games remotely as if they were seated at the table.
Last week, Macau authorities decided to stop issuing new casino licenses for ten years as well as suspending any applications to expand existing operations.
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