Macau continues to outgrow Vegas as the worlds number one mecca for casinos. The Las Vegas Sands group have just expanded their Sands Macao Casino into the world's largest with over 700 tables. Steve Wynn will open his first casino resort in September with 600 rooms and next year, the $2.3 billion Venetian Macao Resort will open

In the meantime, 2 high-level casino execs were murdered last weekend, causing officials to worry about casino-related crime returning to the territory.

Ms Chao Yuek-hong and her husband Mr Lam Pou-sang were both found brutally murdered in their car. Ms Chao was the executive director of the Golden Palace room at Casino Lisboa - one of the most profitable in Macau. Her husband was a casino manager. This is the first senior casino exec murder for 10 years in Macau and has officials concerned it could be a return to the days seen during pre-handover days

Last week, gaming tycoon Stanley Ho revealed that dozens of VIP-room operators are are facing bankruptcy due to fierce competition.

Because of the increasing competition, legislator Au Kam-san said that there was a chance that casino-related crimes could return.

'Few of the bloody crimes committed before the handover have been solved, which is to say the old rings have stayed intact,' he said.

'Now they can feed off the lucrative casinos... but they are bound to fight again once profits shrink.'

Article: Casino battle heats up in Macao
- Casino director killed