July 1, 2017, will mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China, after more than a century of British colonial rule. It comes at a moment when China’s leaders are increasingly promoting Hong Kong’s unique role in advancing the country’s economic development.

While casinos in Las Vegas took a serious nosedive in 2008 following the global economic downturn, casinos in Macau boomed, allowing their American companies to stay afloat. Now, as Las Vegas looks to regain its seat as the gambling capital of the world, companies are turning to Chinese visitors in hopes of attracting higher revenues and foreign direct investment.