Gaming tourism continues to power Macau's buoyant economy, as its gross domestic product (GDP) for 2007 grew 27.3 % over the previous year, according to Macau's Statistics and Census Service. Latest figures showed that the region's GDP for 2007 was estimated at 153.61 billion patacas (USD 19.2 billion) in real terms and per-capita GDP amounted to 292,165 patacas (USD 36,357) - outstripping the USD 29,847 in neighboring Hong Kong.

Costa Rica government named a high-level commission with the aim to revise the law that regulates casinos, made in 1922, and toughen the rules in order to avoid the massive arrival of gambling venues in the country. The commission will be comprised by Ministers of Tourism, Carlos Benavides, Foreign Commerce, Marco Ruiz, and Justice, Laura Chinchilla, who will have 15 days to make a report to be presented to the government council.

Only in Las Vegas could there be fretting over the fortunes of the city's biggest industry after a banner year filled with record performances. But it's true. Even though more people visited Las Vegas in 2007 than any year in history there has been a parade of experts who say we may not be as fortunate this year. It started with Preview Las Vegas, the annual event sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Development Authority, two organizations notorious for their bullishness on the local market.

The growth of bets in casinos and gambling halls in Panama, which generated USD 948 million last year, is directly related to the arrival of tourists, according to President of the Association of Games of Chance Administrators (Asaja), Antonio Alfaro. “Bets from foreign people have been growing more that those from local people”, commented Alfaro, evaluating the development of the sector in 2007.