Macau’s newest shrine to gambling, entertainment and relaxation, Sands Cotai Central, has just opened its doors. Andrea Yu and Matt Fleming are there for the big launch

As it looks to out-Vegas Las Vegas as the casino capital of the world, Macau just gets bigger, better and more gaudy by the day. The big news this month is the opening of the new multi-billion-dollar daddy of Cotai Strip, Sands Cotai Central. Many features are yet to open and we are expecting quite a bit more from developer Sands China, owner of The Venetian Macau (which, incidentally, is just across the road and will eventually be connected under plans for a giant ‘integrated resort’). It’s big, it’s impressive (check out the God of Fortune Statue and Himalayan-inspired casino) and it screams cash – but does it really outshine other Macau giants? Check it out for yourself…

Holiday Inn
With 1,224 rooms, this is set to be the world’s largest Holiday Inn featuring 65 suites including the aptly-named 1,700sq ft Chairman Suite which includes a massage room and home theatre. The Holiday Inn shares a building with the Conrad and is the complex’s best value option.

God of Fortune Statue
Get your cameras out for this 16ft, 5,500lb statue that was created by leading Chinese sculptor Professor Sun Jiabin. Made with bronze and gold-leaf accents, the God of Fortune stands in the Paradise Garden within spitting distance of the Himalaya Casino, hopefully to cast wealth upon gamblers.

Shopping
Brand-savvy shoppers will be pleased as punch to visit the 28 duty-free shops that opened in the first phase of Shoppes Cotai Central. Currently, only the ground floor is open, with two brands making their Macau debut – Michael Kors and Sergio Rossi.

Sheraton
With their first tower set to open in September this Sheraton is set to be Macau’s largest hotel with nearly 4,000 guest rooms and 100,000sq ft of function space. They’ll occupy two of the three Sands Cotai towers with their Sky Tower and Earth Tower (the latter which will open later next year).

Conrad
Aimed at luxury and business travellers, the Conrad features 600 rooms and suites, topped off with an expansive clubhouse on the 39th floor.

The fourth tower
A St Regis serviced apartment building is pegged to be the fourth tower in the complex, however construction has halted after about 10 stories of construction, apparently due to a need to review floor plans and seek approval from authorities in Macau.

Dining
At the moment there are seven fine dining options available at Sands Cotai, including the Conrad’s signature restaurant Dynasty 8 headed by chef Wong Man of Hong Kong’s two-Michelin-starred Tim’s Kitchen. Eventually there will be a total of 20 dining options available for hungry visitors.