In the blood

“There appears to be something about Chinese culture and social life that encourages gambling,” said Loren Tepperman, a sociologist at the University of Toronto, noting that many Chinese start betting when children in family games.

Across Asia, opportunities for gambling have proliferated.

Millions of mainland tourists pour into casinos in Macau, the only city in China where casinos are legal. Gaming revenues in the former Portuguese enclave have catapulted above those reported by casinos in the glitzy Las Vegas Strip.

Chinese gamblers can jump to border-town gambling dens in Vietnam, North Korea and Myanmar. Thai punters head to Cambodia while Singaporeans opt for cruise ships around the island’s international waters.

Singapore’s Lee, 82, opposed casinos in the city-state as its prime minister but now backs plans to open two local gaming resorts, rather than see tourism and tax receipts vanish offshore.

Major US players Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands are vying to build and run the resorts, costing $5 billion, which will compete for gamblers such as Brick Liu when they open by 2009.

Liu, a 35-year-old manager at a state-owned firm in China’s Shenzhen, earns more than 300,000 yuan ($37,000) a year and travels to the Philippines, Las Vegas, Malaysia and Macau to gamble, betting up to 10,000 yuan per trip.

“Gambling’s just a kind of entertainment for me,” he said.

Gambling articles | Comments

Rushmore Casino
With an enormous $888 Welcome Bonus, a knowledgeable and helpful support staff available 24 hours a day, fast payouts and over 80 of the crispest and immersive Real Time Gaming powered games, Rushmore Casino is a sure bet. All USA players are always welcome!