Refer China: Hotel Sells Gold Floor for $12。8M Amid Shift from Gambling

Summary: A Macau hotel removed 79kg of gold bricks from its lobby, selling them for $12.8 million. The owner cited market timing and a shift from casino gambling to new leisure ventures, aligning with Beijing's push to diversify Macau's economy.

The hotel, which opened in 2006, has built a reputation for its ultra-luxurious design, including a 'golden pathway' at its entrance made from dozens of gold bars.

But its owner Emperor Entertainment Hotel Ltd, based in Hong Kong, said in a stock exchange filing this week that changing market conditions made it an ideal time to sell.

While the gold helped create a 'sumptuous and resplendent atmosphere', the company said it recognised a 'good opportunity' to remove and dispose of the bullion.

In total, the hotel sold 79kg of gold bricks to a Hong Kong refiner for $12.8million (£9.4m), adding that the sale would bolster its finances and give it more flexibility to invest elsewhere.

Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in 1999, is one of the country's two special administrative regions, and the only place where casino gambling is legal.

The territory, stretching 13 square miles, was the world's biggest gambling market by revenue in 2025 - and has been dubbed the 'Las Vegas of Asia' for this reason.

However, recently, casinos have been pulling back from gambling due to pressure from Beijing to diversity its economy.

In October, the Grand Emperor closed its casino, and the group said it is now planning a new entertainment and leisure uses for the site, with the once gold-lined lobby already set for redevelopment.

With renovations scheduled, the company said the precious metals, that were once a standout feature of the hotel's opulent design, are 'no longer relevant to the future theme' of the property, as reported by the Guardian.

The timing appears to have worked in the hotel's favour, as gold prices have climbed sharply over the past year as investors seek safe havens amid geopolitical tensions, unpredictable trade policies, and shifting tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump.

Macau has been declared the five-star hotel capital of the world three years running in the Forbes Travel Guide's Star Rating Awards.

In the most recent ranking, the Chinese city was recognised as having 24 five-star hotels overall, with the list including Epic Tower at Studio City Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau.

Along with Macau, Asia saw hotels in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Singapore awarded five stars by Forbes, plus the Rosewood Guangzhou in China.

It joined Madrid's newly-awarded Rosewood Villa Magna and Rosewood London on a 14-strong list of five-star Rosewood hotels throughout the world.