Macau trip report, May 2018.

[San Jose Bella]

To save you time reading further, I'll jump to the conclusion first: It's not a place for advantage play, so DON'T GO.

I've been to Macau 6 times, the last time I went there was in 2014, lots have changed since. This time, I stayed in Macau for 5 days, wandering around trying to find an AP opportunity, I found nothing. All I could do in the last 2 days are eat and sleep, pretty boring indeed.
The 0% HE game in PHARAOH'S PALACE is gone. https://wizardofmacau.com/games/blackjack.html In fact, no more blackjack in Pharaoh, all replaced by baccarat.
Still all CSMs. Few blackjack tables can be found in large casinos. The dealing procedure looks so weird, the dealer put cards partially on top of another card, and the hand movement is very robotic.
Unlike in the US, dealers are mostly unfriendly in Macau, their faces look exactly like worned out machine. Perhaps its because they don't receive tips as part of the income.
The ferry ticket resale AP opportunity is gone.
All video poker machines are gone, probably because the HE is too low.
Baccarat has been dominating Macau for a long time, it's even worse now. At some small casinos, all table games are baccarat, nothing else.
There were quite a few Caucasian and Indian tourists in 2014. Right now, more than 99% are Chinese.
Business is still booming, degenerate gamblers are all over the place. Average bet is much higher than in Vegas, minimum bet at around $30. At Wynn palace, I saw people bet $150,000 a hand at baccarat. The table game area at Venetian is quite a scene, 800 tables(mostly baccarat) packed with superstitious people, when someone has a small winning streak, 40+ people would circle around that table making bet and shouting(praying) loudly, like they found a gold mine.
The atmosphere in Macau feels uncomfortable, it's more like a war zone than a vacation destination. Bars and nightclubs are either closed or in bad shape, most replaced by restaurant or baccarat table. People don't gamble for fun, they gamble trying to make a killing. It used to be a fun place with some activities to do, right now everything interesting is replaced by baccarat.
Smoking is prohibited almost everywhere, so smoking rooms are built in all casinos, the air quality in buildings got better.
Food is much better than Vegas in my opinion, probably because I'm Chinese.
Swimming pool at Wynn Palace is incredible, best view for the fountain. Most importantly, it's quite empty. Nobody pays for lounge chairs or day beds like in Vegas. People simply play baccarat and ignore the pool, quite amazing.

[chucky baby]

To save you time reading further, I'll jump to the conclusion first: It's not a place for advantage play, so DON'T GO.

I've been to Macau 6 times, the last time I went there was in 2014, lots have changed since. This time, I stayed in Macau for 5 days, wandering around trying to find an AP opportunity, I found nothing. All I could do in the last 2 days are eat and sleep, pretty boring indeed.
The 0% HE game in PHARAOH'S PALACE is gone. https://wizardofmacau.com/games/blackjack.html In fact, no more blackjack in Pharaoh, all replaced by baccarat.
Still all CSMs. Few blackjack tables can be found in large casinos. The dealing procedure looks so weird, the dealer put cards partially on top of another card, and the hand movement is very robotic.
Unlike in the US, dealers are mostly unfriendly in Macau, their faces look exactly like worned out machine. Perhaps its because they don't receive tips as part of the income.
The ferry ticket resale AP opportunity is gone.
All video poker machines are gone, probably because the HE is too low.
Baccarat has been dominating Macau for a long time, it's even worse now. At some small casinos, all table games are baccarat, nothing else.
There were quite a few Caucasian and Indian tourists in 2014. Right now, more than 99% are Chinese.
Business is still booming, degenerate gamblers are all over the place. Average bet is much higher than in Vegas, minimum bet at around $30. At Wynn palace, I saw people bet $150,000 a hand at baccarat. The table game area at Venetian is quite a scene, 800 tables(mostly baccarat) packed with superstitious people, when someone has a small winning streak, 40+ people would circle around that table making bet and shouting(praying) loudly, like they found a gold mine.
The atmosphere in Macau feels uncomfortable, it's more like a war zone than a vacation destination. Bars and nightclubs are either closed or in bad shape, most replaced by restaurant or baccarat table. People don't gamble for fun, they gamble trying to make a killing. It used to be a fun place with some activities to do, right now everything interesting is replaced by baccarat.
Smoking is prohibited almost everywhere, so smoking rooms are built in all casinos, the air quality in buildings got better.
Food is much better than Vegas in my opinion, probably because I'm Chinese.
Swimming pool at Wynn Palace is incredible, best view for the fountain. Most importantly, it's quite empty. Nobody pays for lounge chairs or day beds like in Vegas. People simply play baccarat and ignore the pool, quite amazing.

What about the 5-card half-win at the Lisboa? Is it gone?

[San Jose Bella]

What about the 5-card half-win at the Lisboa? Is it gone?

Gone

[San Jose Bella]

Surely there must be some AP possible.....

You can accumulate some point, get a ferry ticket, then resale it. It can only be done once, and certainly not worth it.

[Gramazeka]

San Jose Bella,
Thank you for information. This is what is a valuable contribution to the forum.