Beijing outlawed gambling in 1949, and casinos are not allowed to operate in China. Yet many Chinese have an inclination toward games of chance, a tradition that dates back thousands of years.
Today, the blanket ban doesn't stop entrepreneurial Chinese from setting up underground gambling operations and private lotteries.
The policy has also given rise to a ring of casinos that operate just outside Beijing's reach. The most notable of these territories is Macau, which boasts a casino industry that is seven times larger than Las Vegas.
