Experts say Macau's success spurring Asia's gaming industry

SINGAPORE -- As reported by Channel News Asia: "Macau's success as a gaming haven is spurring the industry in Asia, with some countries already building massive casinos and others moving to legalise them, experts said Tuesday.

"The provision of wholesome entertainment, retail shopping, and hotel and convention facilities as part of the gaming experience is helping to shed the usual image of casinos as linked to gambling, crime and sleaze, they said.

"...Macau's casinos reported revenues of US$9.7 billion in the first seven months of this year, up 44 per cent from the year before, he said.

"...Singapore is constructing two integrated casino resorts, one of them set to open in late 2009, after the government lifted a long-standing ban on casino gambling.

"Canada-based Asian Coast Development Ltd. (ACDL) is constructing a US$4.2 billion beachfront project in Vietnam's Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, which will include the communist nation's first Las Vegas-style casino..."