This goes back to colonial times, when Hong Kong had tight limits on gambling-it was legal only at the horse racing track twice a week-but Macau had casinos. Macau is best known as a major destination for gambling. Returned to Chinese rule in 1999, it is now a semi-autonomous ' Special Administrative Region', a status it shares with nearby Hong Kong.
Macau (also spelled Macao, 澳門, ou3 mun4 in Cantonese, Àomén in Mandarin) is a former Portuguese colony, a world-renowned gambling destination, and one of the world's most densely populated places, with a population of 667,000 people (2016) in an area half the size of Manhattan Island. Macau is a huge city with several district articles that contain information about specific sights, restaurants, and accommodation.