Originally Posted by willflyforfood

I'm a regular to Las Vegas (5-6 times per year), and an annual traveler to Hong Kong/Macau in April for the Sevens, and can tell you as a Westerner, a visit to Macau for gambling has become a soul-crushing experience.
First, Macau has completely lost its charm from even 10 years ago, before the explosion of Western-style casinos - Wynn, Venetian, etc... The city is now a soul-less tourist trap. Yes, the architecture is fantastic, the scope of what they have achieved in 10 years is amazing, but it has no soul, no charm. Everything is just bigger and bigger.
Second, table games are slanted heavily to Baccarat, at the expense of the games most Westerners love, like BJ and Craps.
Third, table limits are so high, I find it mind-boggling. I'm fortunate to be really comfortable economically, but I look at $300HKD and $500HKD table minimums and shake my head. I love gaming for the fun of the game, and I never look at it as a way to make money. Knowing basic strategy at BJ and playing perfect craps still means I must expect to lose 1-2% over the long haul. The rapacious table stakes simply means I'm guaranteed to lose more. Nothing beats a $5 minimum craps game with 10X odds, and a $5000 limit, relatively easy to find in Vegas or the Gulf Coast. Forget that in Macau! Also, while a $5000-$7500 USD bankroll will assure you some pretty swell treatment in Vegas, and you will be treated like a king on the Gulf Coast, a bankroll like that in Macau places you with the tourists and paupers! I have no idea where all of this liquidity is coming from, but there are few places that make me feel as poor as the casinos of Macau.
Fourth, I agree with the recommendations re: horse racing. The night races at Happy Valley are simply magical, and the races at ShaTin aren't bad either. One tip, I live my life in shorts, but they do not allow men wearing shorts into the upscale or expat grandstands at either track, regardless of the passport you hold or how much you bring to gamble!
Having said all that, Macau is still the freak show that you need to see to believe. I was very fortunate that I saw Macau before the Sands opened (the first big Western style joint to open), and prefer to remember it as that way than the grotesque freak show that it has become.