Macau, with a gross casino gaming revenue of US$5.02 billion in 2004 (Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, 2005), is certainly one of the biggest gaming markets in the world today. Over the same period, casinos in the Las Vegas Strip brought in US$5.33 billion (American Gaming Association, 2005). There are now 17 casinos in Macau and more are expected to be operational by 2009. Macau's success story has been the admiration of many Chinese and a celebration of the Chinese government's 'one country, two systems' policy.

Three major companies currently hold licenses to operate casinos in Macau, namely, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), Galaxy Casino, S.A. and Wynn Resorts (Macau), S.A. (Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, 2005). While the first two main licensees are already operating casinos in Macau, Wynn's first casino on this tiny 27.3 square kilometer of Chinese land is due to open by 2006. A number of subconcession contracts were also approved by the Macau government such as for Venetian Macau (under Galaxy), and MGM Mirage/Pansy Ho (under SJM). The Sands Macau, which is managed by Venetian Macau, was the first Las Vegas-style casino to open in Macau on May 2004.

According to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (2005), in 2003/ 2004, there are 2,254 slots versus 1,092 table games in Macau. These figures give a ratio of 2.1 slots to tables and slot revenue of only 1.6% of Macau's 2004 total gaming revenue. This ratio pales compared to the 21.4 slots to tables ratio of the Las Vegas Strip or the 31.1 ratio of Nevada State (Nevada Gaming Commission and State Gaming Control Board, 2005). Comparatively, Australia's casino market in 2003/2004 has a slot/ table ratio of 10.7 (Australian Casino Association, 2005). In Malaysia, it is a 1:7.4 (slots to tables) split (CasinoCity, 2005). Many observers have reported a clear interest among Chinese in table games. On the contrary, slots are less successful in Macau. Why is this so? This paper examines some of the explanations behind why Chinese like to play table games and not slots.