Macau sees sharp rise in gambling-related crime in H1 2024

Jenny Ortiz September 17, 2024

Macau has seen a sharp rise in gambling-related crime during the first half of 2024, with 683 cases reported—a 61.8 percent year-on-year increase. The surge comes as the city’s tourism sector recovers, with visitor numbers exceeding 16.7 million in the first six months of the year, representing a 43.6 percent rise compared to the same period in 2023. Although the crime figures are still 29.4 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, authorities remain vigilant as the gaming industry regains momentum.

Fraud accounted for 23.3 percent of these crimes, with 159 cases reported, a 67.4 percent increase from the previous year. Loan sharking also saw a notable rise, with 122 cases representing a staggering 293.5 percent year-on-year growth. Unlawful detentions linked to gambling activities increased from seven cases in the first half of 2023 to 23 cases in the same period this year.

Fraud cases linked to money exchange gangs surge

Among the various crimes, fraud associated with “money exchange gangs” saw the most significant increase, rising by 317 percent compared to the same period in 2023. The Office of the Secretary for Security reported 351 cases of fraud linked to these gangs, with police intercepting 2,215 gang members during this period. Of these, 2,072 non-residents were deported, and 1,540 were banned from entering Macau’s casinos by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

Authorities have attributed the rise in such crimes to the recovery of Macau’s gaming industry. Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak explained that while the increased number of visitors has been beneficial for the local economy, it has also created opportunities for illicit activities such as illegal money exchange. The police are continuing their efforts to patrol casinos and their surroundings to combat these illegal operations.

Joint crackdown on illegal money exchange operations

In a bid to curb the rise in money exchange-related crimes, Macau’s police, in cooperation with mainland Chinese authorities, launched a series of operations that resulted in the arrests of 101 suspects. These efforts, spearheaded by China’s Ministry of Public Security, targeted underground money exchange networks in provinces such as Jilin, Jiangxi, and Guangdong. The authorities seized assets worth RMB1.47 billion (€186 million) during the raids.

As part of an ongoing initiative, Macau’s government is also considering legislative amendments to criminalise unlicenced money exchange activities. These amendments, which form part of a draft bill called the “Law to Combat Gambling Crimes,” will be further discussed in the city’s Legislative Assembly.

Wong expressed optimism about the crackdown’s success, noting a recent decline in illicit money exchange activities. However, he stressed that ongoing efforts would be required to keep these organised criminal groups in check as Macau’s gaming and tourism industries continue to grow.