Betting on Macau delves into the radical transformation of what was formerly the last remaining European territory in Asia, returned to the People's Republic of China in 1999 after nearly half a millennium of Portuguese rule. Examining the unprecedented scale of its development and its key role in China's economic revolution, Tim Simpson follows Macau's emergence from historical obscurity to become the most profitable casino gaming locale in the world. Presented through a cross section of postcolonial studies and social theory with extensive insight into the global gambling industry, Betting on Macau uncovers the various roots of the territory's lucrative casino capitalism. In turn, its trenchant analysis provides a distinctive view into China's broader project of urbanization, its post-Mao economic reforms, and the continued rise of its consumer culture.