Since I began exploring land-based casinos, I’ve always wanted to visit the Venetian Macao. Who wouldn’t want to? The facility used to be the biggest casino in the world, measuring 546,000 square feet. It was only in 2009 that the 600,000 square feet WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma surpassed it. 

Owned by the Las Vegas Sands brand, the Venetian Macao is still a structure to behold. Many people who have visited Macao call it the “Las Vegas of Asia,” and I’ll give all my votes in support. I had a first-class experience playing at the casino, including spinning slot reels and betting at tables. Everything about the location spells the word “premium,” and the rooms are exquisite. 

I must also mention that the staff at this land-based casino in Macao are professional and helpful. They even serve free juices and drinks — you have to pay for food, though.  What you’ve gotten so far is only the tip of the iceberg. Read on as I recount my thrilling experience at the Venetian Macao Casino.

The Venetian Macao Casino is located on the Cotai Strip, at the centre of the Cotai Zone in Macao. I had zero trouble finding the premises because it’s pretty famous. For emphasis, the Cotai Strip is renowned for having many resort hotels and casinos, and the Venetian Macao is the biggest in the area.

Hotel

I arrived at the Macao International Airport and went straight to the Venetian Macao. The trip only took around nine minutes through Av. Wai Long and Estrada do Istmo. Particularly, a right turn along Estrada do Istmo takes you to the Cotai Strip, where the casino is located. 

Upon arriving, I was blown away, as the buildings and decorations were a sight to behold. I lodged in one of the exquisite suites in the hotel and can commend the high-class modern facilities. The suite was upstairs, with the casino just below it.

Casino

The Venetian Macao Casino hall is so large and spacious that I almost lost my way navigating the various gaming rooms. It was about 7 PM when I walked in and there were quite a lot of people. 

You can’t get in if you’re under 21, and, of course, you have to present an ID. The first thing I noticed about the gaming area was how some sections were designed and coloured differently. I later came to learn that the casino is indeed divided into four themed areas:

1. Imperial House
2. Golden Fish
3. Phoenix
4. Red Dragon

While the hotel and casino were the highlight for me, it’s worth noting that Venetian Macao is also a big shopping hub with shops selling luxury items.

Staff and Dealers

From my first interaction with the staff, I noticed one thing: everyone was courteous. My favourite staff was Kimmy, who provided much-needed help in finding my way around. However, within the casino gaming halls, there’s somehow a shortage of staff. As I mentioned, the gaming house is expansive with so many people, and there’s not enough staff to attend to everyone.

Moving to gaming, I tried a few spins at the slot machines, and I can comment on their quality. But my interest was more in cards, so I joined a Blackjack table. From my observations, the Blackjack dealers are complete experts with extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the game. The narrative was the same when I played Roulette and Baccarat. 

However, there’s a factor to note: many dealers don’t speak English. I quite expected that since I was visiting a Chinese region. Thankfully, not much needed to be said other than placing bets and receiving winnings.

Smoking Areas

The Venetian Macao has smoking rooms for convenience, and they’re well-managed, too. Smoking isn’t allowed in the casino area, which I think is a good policy. 

Bars and Restaurants

There’s a free flow of drinks — wines and juices — but no food at Venetian Macao. I had to visit one of the food courts outside the casino to get something to eat. Most of what’s available is Chinese and East Asian cuisine, though. Don’t expect many international meals.

Customer Service

The Venetian Macao offers professional customer service. Before you arrive at the hotel, you can easily book reservations online. When I checked the official website, I found several phone numbers and emails for different types of inquiries, which I think is superb. 

ATM & Cashless Gaming

While at the tables, no one used cash. Even when I played slot machines, I had to use point cards and not coins. You’ll need to first exchange your money for chips at a counter. There are no ATMs on the casino floor, but you’ll find some around the resort. 

Wheelchair Accessibility 

I spotted a few people in wheelchairs around the hotel premises and even inside the casino floor. With how spacious the facility is, I didn’t expect anything different. It’s completely wheelchair accessible.

You’ll find all your favorite casino games at the Venetian Macao as the facility boasts over 800 tables and up to 3,400 slot machines. I’ll share my experience with each in more detail below.

Table Games

Having over 800 table games is quite huge, and that’s what the Venetian Macao Casino offers. There’s Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps, and Sic Bo. Plus, there’s a dedicated section for Poker if you want to compete against fellow gamblers.

One thing I noticed was that the table games primarily catered to Chinese tastes. While I don’t mean to exaggerate, about 85% of the tables were Baccarat. Also, there were more Blackjack and Poker than Roulette tables. It’s safe to say card games reign supreme at the Venetian Macao. 

Slots

During my tour of the premises, I saw slot machines of different themes and features. Interestingly, there are a few jackpot machines. My best experience was with the Aztec solo game slot machine. I played with about $100 and won $470. Not bad, I think, considering I was more into having fun at the magnificent gaming house. 

Popular Games

The Banking Three Card Baccarat is a popular game you can only find at casinos owned by Las Vegas Sands. It’s unique from the regular Three Card because players can bank as many times in a row as they want, so long as no one else wants to.

Another standout game at the Venetian Macao is Sands Stud Poker. I didn’t play, but I made some inquiries from the dealer and found that the Sands Stud Poker is more or less the same as Caribbean Stud Poker. The only difference is in the side bets. Caribbean Stud Poker limits its side bets to $25, but that of Sands Stud Poker is higher, starting from $50 and reaching $250.

Game Quality and Betting Limits

Based on my observations, the game quality at the Venetian Macao is first-class. I think the casino pays serious attention to ensuring everything is in excellent shape. The slots I played, and the tables I sat at were all premium.  

As you’d expect, the betting limits at this casino vary from game to game. But, the games are relatively more expensive than most gambling houses I’ve visited. The minimum you can bet on a slot ranges from as low as $0.05 (5 cents) to as high as $10. But the majority I saw were between $0.05 and $0.1. 

You can find tables for $100, but the vast majority are $250 or $500. When I played at the blackjack table, the minimum bet was $500. It was the same with several Baccarat variants, like Commission Free Baccarat and Banking Three Card Baccarat. 

If you’re not a high roller, I wouldn’t advise going to play the standard baccarat. Besides, it’s only available in the high-limit room, and the minimum bet is a whopping $5,000. 

From my observations, Roulette offers the lowest minimum bet rate. You can place an inside bet at a Roulette table with $100. For outside bets, however, the minimum is $500, which is understandable since they have higher winning odds. 

Poker tables generally cost at least $500 for a seat, and the primary variants available are Omaha, Texas Hold’em, and Three Card Poker.

If you’re interested in bonuses and promotions at the Venetian Macao, you’ll want to check out the Sands Rewards programme, a special club for high rollers at Las Vegas Sands’ resorts and casinos. As a member, you’ll get compensatory allowances and, in some cases, cashback.

Furthermore, there are some exclusive sections at the Venetian Macao Casino — and hotel in general — that you can only access with a VIP membership card. An example is the high-limit Baccarat room with a minimum $5,000 bet.

Generally, the more you spend at the land-based casino, the higher your chances of getting rewards. From my inquiries, the resort gives VIP members a free night at the hotel up to three times a month. For that, however, you’ll need to spend up to $400,000 in the gambling hall.

Atmosphere

I visited the Venetian Macao Casino three more times before eventually leaving the Las Vegas of Asia. Each time, there were always many people on the casino floor, but nighttime is when the atmosphere gets intriguing. There’s no quiet anywhere.

Your ears are steadily greeted by the whirring sounds of slot machines and the clinking of chips. If you’re near the tables, you can also hear the soft thuds as gamblers place their chips. The calls from the dealers and gamblers further heighten the sounds. 

However, I must commend the soundproofing in the suites. If you book a hotel room, you’ll hardly hear any noise when you get in. So, you can have a good rest away from the casino noise.

Cleanliness

Despite the many people I always met in the gambling hall, I was amazed at how clean the environment was. Everything is neat and classic, and the facilities are well-maintained. All these made me give the Venetian Macao Casino high points, especially since it’s relatively old — it opened in 2007. 

Food and Drinks

The Venetian Macao has a nice food court where you’ll find a variety of dishes, although the majority ate local meals. From the menu I saw, the food was relatively expensive, like everything else at the casino. The cheapest I paid was $270 for Sakura, a Sushi Chef’s special. I must say the deliciousness was worth the rate. Regarding drinks, I counted an assortment of wine types. I recommend trying the Cabernet Franc which goes for $10 per glass.

Amenities

The resort boasts a gym, swimming pool, shopping mall, food courts, and an entertainment theatre. It won’t be an exaggeration to say the mall holds products from all the world’s top designers. Interestingly, I reached a point in the mall where I believed I was outside on a sunny day. But it was night. The section features an artificial sky that looks more real than the real thing.

The entertainment theatre is quite busy, too, but that’s if you visit at the right time. It’s a place for live shows and all kinds of fun events. Additionally, the Venetian Macao features a section with 15,000 seats known as the Cotai Arena. People come around to watch events like basketball, boxing, and tennis.

Safety and Security

Macao is one of the safest places in the world, so you have nothing to worry about. The security at the casino is also top-notch. As a bit of advice, ensure your ID is handy, as the security guards won’t let you in without confirming your age and identity.

My time at Venetian Macao is one I’ll surely want to experience again. Everything was seamless, beginning with the nine-minute drive from the airport and my four-day stay at the resort.

I’ll 100% recommend Venetian Macao Casino to anyone who wants luxurious gambling. The location replicates what you get in top cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. You’ll only not appreciate the atmosphere if you’re more accustomed to quiet and less crowded casinos. But if you’re up for a buzzing casino experience, the Venetian Macao is one place to be.

Here's the full address of this land based casino: The Venetian Macao, Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, s/n, Taipa, Macao SAR, P.R. China. I used google maps to get there - just pop the link here //maps.app.goo.gl/1uAzPwwKkPheRF3V8 and follow the directions!

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

• Grand Lisboa Casino
• MGM Macau Casino
• Galaxy Macau Casino
• Morpheus Macau Casino
• Sands Macau Casino