Khaberni - The "Grand Emperor" hotel in Macau announced that it had uprooted real gold bars that were decorating the floor of its main lobby entrance and sold them for about 13 million US dollars, taking advantage of the significant rise in gold prices.
The hotel, which opened in 2006 in the semi-autonomous Chinese casino city, was famous for its luxurious "Golden Corridor" whose floor was adorned with dozens of pure gold bars weighing one kilogram each. The parent company of the hotel stated in a release that the design aimed to "create a luxurious and stunning atmosphere".
However, with the unprecedented increase in gold prices in recent months as investors look for safe havens amidst geopolitical disturbances, the company saw converting the gold into cash as a "good investment opportunity".
Emperor Entertainment Hotel Limited pointed out that the decision to remove and sell the gold bars from the corridor was linked to the renovation of the hotel facilities, and in October 2025, Grand Emperor ceased its gambling operations following Macau tightening its casino operating laws.
The group stated in its announcement two days ago that "since the area concerned is planned to undergo renovation and development, the precious metals that were originally part of the interior design of the hotel are no longer suitable for its future character".
It added that selling "a number of gold bars with a total weight of 79 kilograms" for 12.8 million US dollars "will enhance the financial position of the group and enable it to invest in case suitable opportunities arise".
Macau is the only place in China where gambling is allowed, which has made it the world leader in terms of gambling revenues in 2025, although the city is currently under orders from Beijing to diversify its economy.
