Galaxy Macau Casino boasts an expansive, tastefully furnished gaming floor that easily accommodates over 1,200 slot machines, 700 table games, and VIP gaming rooms. After spending time at the casino, I’d say that it’s worth all the hype that has been built around it since its launch in 2011.

Locating the casino was a breeze, all thanks to its prime location on the Cotai Strip and the Galaxy Macau free shuttle service. I was spoiled for choice when I stepped onto the pristine casino floor as there were several gaming options, including Baccarat, Asian Poker, Blackjack, Craps and Fan Tan. The dealers were as professional as it gets, and I easily got the information I needed from friendly, courteous staff. I discovered numerous promotions that further sweetened an already great gaming experience.

But beyond gaming, I had a wonderful time exploring the entertainment complex home to world-class hotels, a 100,000-square-metre promenade, 120+ restaurants, and classy bars. So, how does the Galaxy fare when compared to other land-based casinos I visited? You'll find all the details hereunder.

Galaxy Macau Casino is located in the heart of the Galaxy Macau resort on the Cotai Strip. That’s approximately 4.6 miles (7.5 kilometres) from the Macau Ferry Terminal and 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometres) from the Macau International Airport.

So getting there was easy. I came by the waterways, and once I got to the ferry terminal, I had no difficulty boarding one of the free shuttle buses the resort offers its visitors. If you’d like to take this route, you’d find free shuttle buses to and from the ferry terminals from 9 am to midnight. 

Casino 

Imagine walking into a 400,000 square feet, well-lit, open gaming space with nearly 700 gaming tables and over 1,200 slot machines. The casino is split into five gaming areas that are uniquely partitioned with red chandeliers, curtains, and wood. Right in the middle of the gaming space is the high-limit Golden Pavilion which resembles a traditional Chinese pavilion except that it sports a blindingly bright crystal chandelier and a colorful stained glass ceiling. 

Hotel

I was amazed to discover that the Star Wars-themed Galaxy Macau complex houses 3 world-class hotels – Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel, and the Hotel Okura Macau. The left tower of the complex is taken up by the 1,500-room Galaxy Hotel while the right tower is split between the Hotel Okura and the Banyan Tree Hotel. 

I spent a night at the family-friendly Galaxy Hotel. It boasts thoughtfully designed and fully equipped rooms and suites that come with plush bedding, luxurious BVLGARI bathroom toiletries, and amenities for kids. The main Galaxy lobby serves as the main entrance for the whole resort. That’s where I saw the Diamond of Fortune show - a free show where a roulette-shaped fountain turns into a wheel as a two-metre-long diamond rises out of it.

Staff and Dealers

I could write a book on the staff at the Galaxy Macau Casino seeing as they take the “Asian Heart” concept of hospitality to a whole new level. All the Galaxy Macau staff I met were extremely helpful and polite. Not all could speak Queen’s English, but they more than made up for that with their friendliness and willingness to help.

The dealers I met and observed at the tables were professional and knowledgeable about the games. I didn’t play at all the tables, but I did lots of fishing and I must say, the dealers at the Galaxy Macau are polite, fast, and patient.

Smoking Areas

The Galaxy Macau casino is a smoke-free zone. However, there are designated smoking lounges for smokers.

Bars and Restaurants 

I didn’t have any trouble getting someone to serve me free non-alcoholic beverages like water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks at Galaxy Macau. There are loads of bars in the resort, but I only tried two of the more popular ones: Cascades and the Macallan Whisky Bar and Lounge. The Cascades is a lobby bar that serves food, drinks, and afternoon tea.

I think I like the Macallan Whisky Bar and Lounge better due to its country club vibe and impressive whisky menu. It also offers beer, rum, cognac, gin, vodka, wine, cocktails, pizza, hamburgers, and bruschetta. Perhaps what I like the most about Macallan is its 50% off all whiskies promotion that runs every Wednesday from 7 pm to 9 pm.

I heard Galaxy Macau offers a paid buffet option, but I didn't get to check it out as there was just so much to do. One such thing was exploring some of the 120+ restaurants that offered Indian, Italian, Cantonese, Japanese, Thai, Dim Sum, Korean, French, Congee, and Macanese cuisines. I found a Michelin-starred restaurant known as the 8 1⁄2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA, where I tried some Italian cuisine. Dining at Terrazza was also memorable. However, I had to dress the part as T-shirts, shorts, flip flops, or casual sportswear weren’t allowed at this upscale restaurant serving great Mediterranean cuisine. 

If casual dining is your thing, then you might want to try the Oasis, Starbucks, or McDonald's at the resort. By the time I found them, there was no space left in my stomach.

Customer Service

I like the resort’s commitment to exceptional customer service. You can contact the hotel via phone or the concierge or visit the Galaxy Tour & Travel Desk for assistance. I remember seeking directions from a concierge named Diana. She took the time to run a Google search on her iPhone, write down all the information I needed on a pad, and painstakingly explained every word to me. She then called one of the guys (Mark) who was headed my way and put me in his care. 

Mark would later become my unofficial tour guide, and it was thanks to him that I learned the “wheres’’, “whats”, and “hows” of the Galaxy Macau. I’d rate the Galaxy Macau staff service 9.5/10 based on my experience.

ATMs & Cashless Gaming

I found a couple of ATMs in the casino, but they understandably came with high service charges. So if you’re on a budget, you’re better off with cash (preferably in Hong Kong Dollars). I was also pleased to discover that the casino accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express in addition to other digital payment methods.

Wheelchair Accessibility

The casino has ramps that support wheelchair access. Many of the gamers I saw in wheelchairs didn't even break a sweat or require much assistance to get into the casino.

Stepping onto the casino gaming floor reminded me of how I felt when I first visited one of the biggest creameries in town. There were just so many casino games that I couldn’t decide where to start. 

Table Games

There are about 700 table games at the Galaxy Macau Casino. So whether you’re into Sic Bo, Blackjack, Fan Tan, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps, Asian, or Caribbean Stud Poker, you’d never run out of gaming options here.

Slot Games

The casino has about 1,200 slot machines, ranging from traditional lever-operated machines to video slots and video poker. I tried my hand at Live Gaming Baccarat and electronic versions of Baccarat, Roulette, and Sic Bo. There were also slot tournaments, but I couldn't participate because I wasn't a member of the Galaxy Macau loyalty programme.

VIP Rooms

I checked out the Pavilion VIP (there were other VIP rooms), where all the high rollers go to play. From what I could briefly see, this game space oozes luxury and features exclusive gaming tables and premium slot machines. VIP members enjoy exclusive amenities like master tea service, premium Wi-Fi, snacks, and a mouthwatering selection of international and regional food and beverages. 

Popular Games

After scouring the gaming floor for hours, I noticed that some of the games were more popular than others. From my observation, the more popular games were Baccarat, Fan Tan, Asian Poker, and Sic Bo (including its electronic versions). 

Poker Room

The Pavillion Poker room is a small, tastefully furnished room with about thirty poker tables – five cash tables and twenty-five tables for tournaments and Sit 'n' Goes. At the time I visited, only No Limit Hold 'Em was available at the Pavillion Poker Room, but I’m sure that'll soon change. Games were offered at 25/50 and up, with the house usually set at five percent and capped at HK$250 for 25/50 and HK$300 for all higher games. I later found out from Mark that the room was open round the clock and had its own cashier. Plus, there were gourmet food options on offer.

Game Quality and Betting Limits

I found the gaming options at Galaxy Macau to be of premium quality. The video slots, in particular, were quite catchy with their different themes.

I didn’t get to check out all the table games, but here’s what I found. For Baccarat, minimum bets start from $5,000 in the High Limit Quarter. While Commission Free Baccarat, Blackjack, and Caribbean Stud Poker have minimum bets of $500. For Craps and Sic Bo, the minimum bet is $300. With Roulette, the inside bets are $50, while the outside bets are $200.

In my opinion, the Galaxy Player Card is arguably one of the best promotions in the Macau gaming space. It comes in four types: Gold, Platinum, Black, and Diamond.

Atmosphere

Lively yet elegant is how I’d describe the Galaxy Macau Casino. There’s a toned-down festival vibe about the casino that’s hard to describe. Maybe it’s the dancing performances on the casino floor or the lighting that sparks up the chandeliers. Or maybe it’s the buzz that comes from so many well-dressed people having a good time. Whatever it is, the sights, sounds, and smells of the casino give a lot of Ocean 11-sque vibes.

Cleanliness

I’d rate the casino 9.5/10 on cleanliness. I don’t remember seeing dirt, food crumbs, or spilled drinks anywhere on the gaming floor. Trust me, such things would be easy to spot given how well-lit the casino is.

Food and Drinks

After gaming to my heart’s content, I walked through the promenade and spied an interesting variety of food and drinks. There are at least 18 provincial Chinese cuisines, 13 international cuisines, and 6 signature restaurants. There were tons of options to choose from when it came to drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) but I stuck with the Macallan Whisky Bar (for whisky), and the % Arabica (for specialty coffee).

Amenities

Besides the Responsible Gambling Kiosk and Station inside the casino, the Galaxy Macau is home to the Grand Resorts Deck, which features the 8,000 square metre Skytop Wave Pool and the 575 meter Skytop Adventure Rapids. There’s also a heated pool and a fitness centre.

Safety and Security

When I enquired about the security measures at Galaxy Macau, I was told that the management deploys advanced surveillance systems and a highly trained security team to ensure a safe environment for customers and staff. Mark let me know that there was always constant and discreet monitoring by staff and third parties to protect customers’ well-being.

I had heard a lot about the Galaxy Macau Casino and how it was redefining land-based gaming in Asia. Based on my first-hand experience, I’d say that the Galaxy Macau Casino is all that and more. I could see a steady commitment to offering players a one-in-a-lifetime gaming experience. 

Everything – the gaming options, ambience, promotions, service, and facilities – is designed to offer premium gameplay. Hence, I’d gladly recommend the Galaxy Macau Casino to anyone who cares to listen.

The Galaxy Macau Casino is conveniently located between two world-class hotels, the Venetian and the Broadway Macau. So there’s lots of traffic headed in that direction. Better still, there are multiple transportation options available to and from the casino (public transport, taxis, and shuttles). Here's a handy link that will take you straight to where you need to go: //maps.app.goo.gl/A4WRLkpaz6fbhrXf8.

Here are a few other land based casinos I visited while in Macao:

• Venetian Macao Casino
• Grand Lisboa Casino
• MGM Macau Casino
• City of Dreams Macau Casino
• Sands Macau Casino