Rolling Stones concert pushes Macau into the big league for entertainment

Macau left Las Vegas in its wake long ago to become the world's most cash-rich gaming destination and as it continues to coin it at the tables, the city has its sights set on becoming Asia's go-to venue for the world's biggest entertainment stars.

But does the former Portuguese enclave's spectacular rise from sleepy backwater to global gaming powerhouse pose a threat to Hong Kong's ability to attract the biggest names?

One of the men plotting Macau's bid for a seat at the top table of international entertainment says the sell-out concert by ageing rockers The Rolling Stones was a game-changer.

Olaf Gueldner, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer of Sands China which runs the Venetian Macau, said: "The Rolling Stones playing here - arguably one of the most famous groups - creates a huge amount of interest and vibe around it beyond the fact that it was just a concert … It was the tipping point for many to ask 'what's going on in Macau?'.

"It's a bit like when the Formula One went to Singapore, it catapults you to a different level. If the Stones played there, people think there must be more there than we thought."

In recent years, the Macau government has mapped out extensive plans to diversify its gambling-dependent economy, but it has had mixed results.