Sands Macau Casino Guide

The Sands Macau Casino is the city's original Las Vegas style Casino, and still the best in city. For a relaxed, everyman, the Sands Macau casino is perfect. Brightly lit, with complimentary drinks and decent live bands, the Sands is as much about entertainment as it is about gambling. Those looking for something more uniquely Macau, will need to look elsewhere.

Opened in 2003, the opening of the Sands was the opening of the floodgates for Macau's casino boom. Since the Sands brought Las Vegas style to the Island, Macau's casino's haven't looked back, with every casino importing the same Las Vegas gimmicks.

For now, the Sands, along with its fierce rival Wynn Casino, remains the best. It's golden tower near the Hong Kong ferry pier holds over 229,000 of gaming room, as well as a hotel and numerous hotels.

The Casino itself has the best range of betting ranges in Macau, with betting minimums running the gamut from rock-bottom to sky-high. In fact, with around 740 gaming tables, the Casino claims to have the most in the world. Slot machines are packed into the huge aircraft hangar style main hall, with both Chinese and Western style gaming machines well-represented. The Sands is also more than competent in handling high rollers, with a number of exclusive rooms.

Style wise, the Sands is somewhat lacking and you'll have to suspend your disbelief if you want to play James Bond. The main hall feels like an exhibition hall.

Entertainment is a plus at the Sands, with plenty of Las Vegas glitz and glammer on offer. A live band plays the main gaming hall each night, while in the Xanadu Lounge there is also a free, and excellent cabaret show.