udy into the casino industry by research provider CLSA has showed that average minimum bets at non-VIP tables at casinos in Macau are far higher than its international competitors.

According to Aaron Fischer, regional head of consumer and gaming research at CLSA, the average minimum bet for an average high roller at a Macau casino stands at a staggering $270, in comparison with $10 in the Philippines and $20 in Las Vegas, Australia and South Korea.

The portion of table games in Macau that have a minimum bet of $387 or more stands at 28% for August 2014, which is up from 17% the previous August.

Macau is the only place in China where gambling has been legalised, and with a population of 600,000, the gambling industry plays a key role in funding the local economy in the city, as it generates roughly seven times the income of the Las Vegas casino industry.