Macau is the only place in China where casino gambling is legally allowed. All casino developments in the Cotai Strip were spearheaded by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, MGM Resorts and other international players, making this the site of the world’s largest gambling city and the perfect gambling getaway for anyone visiting South-East Asia.
Like its Vegas counterpart, the Cotai Strip has casinos all along a single street with flashing neon signs and towering skyscrapers on either side. It starts from Studio City in the south and goes up to the City of Dreams in the north.
The best casinos on the Cotai Strip
Just like in Vegas, you can hop between the best casinos, take in some of the shows or head to some amazing poolside parties. We’ve listed a few of the best casinos on the Cotai Strip here.
The Venetian
Among the glut of Macau’s casino hotels towers the biggest integrated resort and casino, the Venetian, which is as magnificent as its Vegas counterpart. The Venetian has the largest casino space in the world, with 3,400 slot machines, 800 gambling tables and a 15,000 seat arena for entertainment or sporting events. You can also visit the sprawling mall, restaurants, or even take a gondola ride down the Venetian canals.
City Of Dreams
Just across the road from the Venetian is the younger, hipper City of Dreams Casino. This mega-resort on the Cotai Strip includes an endless parade of blackjack tables, roulette wheels and slot machines. With artistic interiors and contemporary furnishing, the City of Dreams is a place for groups of girls or guys and couples as there is less in the way of family entertainment. It also offers three hotels and the House of Dancing Water – Macau’s best floor show.
The Galaxy
If the 450 gambling tables and more than 50 restaurants weren’t enough, the Galaxy casino also has a rooftop wave pool and an artificial beach. With 2,200 rooms and The Banyan Tree Spa, the Galaxy is touted a “must-see” gambler’s haven on Macau’s Cotai Strip. The packed casino floor is surrounded by quiet high-end shops and restaurants. The Galaxy also boasts Macau’s first water slide mountain and the world’s largest skytop adventure rapids.
Sands Macao
The Sands Macao was the first Las Vegas-style casino on the Cotai Strip. Live bands, free drinks, and its location right next to the Macau/Hong Kong ferry make this the ideal place to spend a day trip. The 229,000 square feet of gaming space at the Sands Macao is easy to navigate making it a great spot for first-time players to empty their pockets.
The Cotai Strip is sometimes referred to as the “Las Vegas of Asia”.
Other attractions on the Cotai Strip
The Cotai Strip consists of an entire district of casinos but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything for non-gamblers to do here. There’s plenty of entertainment to while the hours away at the Cotai Strip without spending any money. Here are a few of the top attractions that don’t involve gambling.
Shuttle bus drive-by
You don’t have to be a guest or gambler to take this shuttle bus. The Cotai Connection is a free shuttle service that runs between the major casino resorts on the Cotai Strip. The bus departs every 20 minutes from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM and ferries passengers between these establishments:
City of Dreams > Wynn > Galaxy > The Venetian > Studio City > Sands Cotai Central.
Taking the bus at night is recommended when the streets are alive with magical lights and bustling with activity.
Eiffel Tower replica
The Parisian casino flanks a half-scale Eiffel Tower replica right on Macau’s Cotai Strip. You can catch a free light show from 6:15 PM up until midnight, when the lights change in sync with music that plays every fifteen minutes. The tower is open everyday from 11 AM to 11 PM and also has observation decks on levels 7 and 37, with an Eiffel Tower Souvenir Shop on level 5.
Studio City
Bringing together film production facilities with gaming, retail, and hotels, Studio City is a cinematic-themed resort in collaboration with Warner Bros and DC Comics. Housing the world’s first figure-8 ferris wheel, a 4D Batman simulation ride (and more), this Gotham-city inspired building is also family-friendly.
You can also head over to the Legend Heroes Park in Studio City, a tech-based entertainment park which uses virtual and augmented reality, holograms, project mapping and more to give you a truly immersive experience. If you’re a family with kids, there’s the Warner Bros Fun Zone, a 32,000 sq. foot playground packed with all the most popular Warner Bros., DC Comics and Hanna-Barbera characters.
Fine Dining
The fact that the Cotai Strip has some of the most exquisite restaurants goes without saying. Nearly every resort has restaurants that carry local Chinese, or global cuisines. You can visit the official websites of the hotels for a full list of restaurants. If you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower Replica, La Chine on level 6 offers a classy dining experience with a panoramic view of the Cotai Strip.
Frequently Asked Questions
While Nevada’s Las Vegas Strip is known by gamblers and non-gamblers alike, Macau’s Cotai Strip is yet to be explored by newer tourists looking for the thrill of the game. Answered here are the most frequently asked questions about the Cotai Strip by tourists looking for something different, or by Vegas regulars in search of a new playground. For more informational content, check out our guide section.
How long is the Cotai Strip?
The Cotai Strip spans over 5.2 square kilometres over a piece of land connecting the Coloane and Taipa islands. The entire hotel-casino strip was built on reclaimed land and connects the two islands, making it one island since 2005. Casinos in the Cotai Strip offer everything from blackjack, roulette and slots to poker, baccarat and craps.
How many casinos are on the Cotai Strip?
Macau’s Cotai Strip has 14 casinos with hotels, including some of the world’s largest resorts. Even with half the number of casinos that the Vegas Strip houses, the Cotai Strip has taken Macau to first place in terms of gaming revenue, beating out Las Vegas in 2007. If travelling isn’t in your near future, you can check out our list of the best live casinos for an authentic online experience.
What is the Cotai Strip in Macau?
The Cotai Strip is a strip of hotel-casinos built in the Cotai section of Macau in China by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The term was coined by the corporation that also built the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Planning a visit soon? Here’s everything you need to know about hitting the blackjack tables.
