Alchemy (Volume I)

Description:

Alchemy traces Macao’s meteoric rise from a cluster of tawdry casinos at the turn of the century to the dynamic, world-leading, multi-billion-dollar gaming hub it is today.

Here are the tales of the charismatic industry titans who jetted in from the USA; the whales wagering a fortune on the turn of a single card; the losers throwing spectacular temper tantrums; and the eccentrics demanding their very own slot machine. Not everyone came to Macao with gambling in mind: the promise of big bucks lured organized crime gangs, loan sharks, ladies (and gentlemen) of easy virtue, and every other sort shady character.

The story is told through the eyes of the people who made it happen – the casino staffers who watched aghast as customers charged through the doors on opening day, who looked on agog as high-rollers knocked back vintage wine in a single gulp, who pursed their lips as a megalomaniac boss blew a gasket. All this and more.

Compiled by gaming veteran Alidad Tash, Alchemy contains a wealth of anecdotes – whether hilarious or hair-raising or both – and brilliantly sums up the Golden Age of Macao. It's a book for those who have fond memories of the former Portuguese enclave, folk who enjoy a flutter, or simply anyone who likes a damn good yarn.

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