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Macau has reported 567 crimes related to gaming in Q1 2025, an increase of 61.5% year over year. Top Crypto Casino in Saudi Arabia – BitStarz Ranked #1

Macau authorities have attributed the surge in crime rates to changes made in its legislation that criminalized illegal money exchange operations, which came into effect in October last year.

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In Q1, authorities reported 152 cases of fraud, 132 incidents involving unlicensed currency exchanges, and 51 cases related to loan sharking. Unlawful exchange practices account for over 60% of gaming-related crime incidents.

Macau revised its law on Combating Gambling Crimes to target and dismantle the region’s illicit underground money networks. 

The implementation deliberately included harsher penalties and more extensive police powers, which could see offenders facing up to five years in prison and a possible 10-year ban from entering any of Macau’s casinos.

The most recent legislation follows a broader crackdown by Beijing on illicit money movements, with law enforcement officers from both Macau and Guangdong working in coordination. 

However, despite the law’s intent to help officials reduce crime levels, Q1’s results show it has unwittingly coincided with an increase in gaming-related offenses.

Notably, the latest spike in financial crimes comes at a time when the number of casinos in Macau has fallen, dropping from 40 in 2019 to just 30 today. 

Additionally, the number of suspicious transactions reported reached a record 3,837 last year, marking the highest tally since the establishment of the Financial Intelligence Office in 2006.

The news follows the release of Macau’s April casino revenue figures, which showed a 1.7% YoY from the same month last year. 

The distinguished focus shift away from VIP visitors, following the imposition of caps on overseas fund withdrawals of only CNY 100,000 ($14,000) per year, has led to an increase in unlicensed money changers operating in the region. 

The high-profile murder of a money changer last year in Wynn Palace only heightened concerns about its prevalence in Macau.

While VIP numbers continue to decline, Macau’s efforts to attract mass-casino tourism to the area have seen an 11.1% overall rise in arrivals in Q1 alone. 

However, observers have stated that the recent influx of more casino-goers has undoubtedly begun to place a strain on law enforcement efforts.

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It’s not only Macau officials who are closely monitoring the situation, as other countries eyeing casino gaming expansions are eager to see how the region handles the rise in crime.

Thailand, whose Prime Minister is looking to push through legislation that would legalize casino resorts, is now openly discussing restricting gambling to ‘foreigner-only” venues.

Industry experts, including Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo and Quan Fang, warn that casinos are inherently connected to crimes such as money laundering, loan sharking, and prostitution. 

Macau authorities will need to address the rising crime levels promptly in an effort to minimize the potential impact on visitor numbers to its resorts.