The Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is proposing a sweeping ban on all forms of gambling-related advertising, in a move aimed at modernising decades-old legislation and reducing the perceived social harms linked to gambling promotions.
A to Macau’s Advertising Activities Law was launched on 3 July 2025, with authorities seeking updated rules to reflect the city’s evolving economic landscape and the rise of digital media.
The Economic and Technology Development Bureau stated that the current advertising laws, which have been in effect for over 30 years, no longer align with contemporary business practices or technological developments. Officials say the amendment aims to ensure that advertising practices keep pace with broader societal concerns, especially those surrounding gambling.
Macau rethinking priorities?
According to a government’s proposal, the amendments will prohibit all forms of gambling promotion in one go. This includes advertising content that displays gambling equipment or imagery, provides information about gambling techniques or odds, or promotes activities that require gambling participation as a condition to receive rewards.
The proposal aims to tweak the meaning of “gambling-related advertising” to include materials showing gambling tools, scenes, or suggestive associations, even if they do not explicitly mention gambling. Macau also seeks to diversify its economy away from gambling. Moreover, any content encouraging online or in-person gambling would breach the new rules.
However, the document stops short of offering specific examples or detailed guidelines, leaving some ambiguity over what exactly would qualify as an offence. For instance, it remains unclear whether indirect references to gambling — such as certain game-themed imagery or promotional slogans — would be subject to the ban.
Final decision after 30-day review
The 30-day consultation period runs from 4 July 2025 to 2 August 205, during which members of the public, businesses, and industry stakeholders are invited to submit feedback. Authorities are expected to consider the input before finalising the legislation.
Macau already enforces some restrictions on gambling advertisements. Currently, gaming operators are generally permitted to promote gambling-related information within designated gaming areas within 바카라s.
As the world’s largest gambling hub, Macau faces ongoing pressure to strike a balance between economic dependence on the gaming sector and growing calls for more responsible regulation. The outcome of this public consultation could mark a major shift in how gambling is promoted — or prohibited — across the region.
