Located just 40 miles southwest of Hong Kong, Macau -- until very recently – was a Portuguese colony, with the first gambling house opening in 1847. In 1999, power was handed over to China and 3 years later the government opened up development to Western firms.
The result: a boom surpassing even the rat pack days of Las Vegas. In 2004, Las Vegas Sands opened the Sands Macau, the largest casino in the world with 740 gaming tables.
And last year gaming revenue jumped 22% to almost $7 billion, surpassing Las Vegas as the world's gambling mecca.
And with half of the world's population within just a 5-hour flight, more and more, what's happening in Vegas, will more likely happen in Macau.
How do you trade this emerging gambling mecca?
Eric Bolling says Macau is hot. And they’re using a lot of slot machines. Eric recommends investing in International Game Technology (IGT), WMS Industries (WMS) and Bally Technologies (BYI), 3 slot machine makers.
Guy Adami likes Starwood Hotels (HOT) who will have 9 properties in Macau by 2010. And, they’re also growing in Vietnam he says.
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Trader disclosure: On May 22, 2007 (the day this show was taped), the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders: Macke Owns (SWY); Najarian Owns (MDT), (STI); Bollings Owns Coffee, Sugar, Gold, Silver; Bolling Owns March Natural Gas Futures and Is Short April natural Gas Futures
