Macau casinos to offer Hold'Em
5th February, 2008
Chinese officials have confirmed that the semi-autonomous region of Macau - famed for its casino resorts - is to legalise Texas Hold'Em Poker for the first time.
The enclave's government updated the rules governing casino gambling this week, authorising gaming houses to collect a commission of three to five per cent of the betting pool for each game.
Analysts say it is unclear why the hugely popular resort had not made the move earlier. Though gambling is largely illegal in China, Macau enjoys the status of special administrative region - akin to Hong Kong - and so is exempt from prohibition.
Recent figures released by the government found that the enclave raked in $10.6 billion (£5.4 million) worth of casino revenue in 2007, up 23 per cent on the previous year and putting the region in stead to overtake Las Vegas as the world's premier gambling destination.
Commenting on the latest change to the law, Louis Ng, director of the Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Casino, told AP: "We are confident that Texas Hold'em will become very popular here. It is popular in Europe and in the US and there are international Texas Hold'Em Poker tournaments every year."
Other locally-based casino operators expected to start hosting Texas Hold'Em games include Wynn, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Grand.
