Macau is the world's largest gambling market by revenue, but it's built on baccarat — not video poker. For players looking for video poker in Macau, the options exist but are a small fraction of the gaming floor. Here's what to expect.
The Two Districts
Macau Peninsula
The original gambling area, home to older casinos like Grand Lisboa, Wynn Macau, and StarWorld. These properties are more compact and table-game-focused. Video poker machines exist in the electronic gaming areas but selection is limited.
Cotai Strip
The newer mega-resort corridor, modeled after the Las Vegas Strip. Properties include The Venetian Macao (the world's largest casino by floor area), The Londoner, Galaxy Macau, City of Dreams, and Studio City. These are massive integrated resorts with more electronic gaming floor space, which means more video poker machines — though still a small percentage of the total.
What to Expect for Video Poker
Video poker is a niche category in Macau. The market generates over 80% of its gaming revenue from baccarat. Electronic gaming (slots and video poker combined) is a distant second. Video poker specifically is a fraction of the electronic gaming section.
Available games: Multi-game terminals at the major resorts typically include Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. The variant selection is limited compared to Las Vegas, where a single IGT Game King machine might offer 20+ games.
Currency: Games are denominated in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD). Some VIP areas may work in other currencies.
Minimum denominations: Higher than US casinos on average. The minimum video poker denomination at a Cotai Strip resort is typically HKD 1 or higher per credit, equivalent to roughly $0.13 USD. High-limit areas go much higher.
Cotai vs. Peninsula for Video Poker
| Factor | Cotai Strip | Peninsula |
|---|---|---|
| Number of VP machines | More (larger floors) | Fewer |
| Modern hardware | Yes (newer resorts) | Mixed (older and newer) |
| VIP access | Full integrated resort VIP | Traditional VIP rooms |
| Atmosphere | Resort/entertainment | Pure gambling |
| Convenience | Shuttle buses, connected by walkways | Compact, walkable |
For video poker specifically: Cotai Strip properties (especially The Venetian Macao and Galaxy Macau) have larger electronic gaming sections with more video poker options. The Peninsula properties are fine for a casual session but offer less selection.
Is Macau Worth It for Video Poker?
As a dedicated video poker destination, no. Macau's strengths are baccarat, luxury resort experiences, and Asian dining. The video poker options are adequate but nowhere near Las Vegas quality in terms of variety, pay tables, or volume.
If you're visiting Macau for other reasons — the food, the shows, the resort experience, or baccarat — and want to play some video poker on the side, the major Cotai Strip resorts have what you need. Just don't expect the depth or pay table transparency that American players take for granted.
For dedicated video poker in Asia, Singapore's Marina Bay Sands offers better electronic gaming variety in a more player-friendly environment for VP.