Macau’s Judiciary Police have reported a sharp rise in gaming-related crimes during the first five months of 2025, with authorities citing unlicensed money exchange and fraud as growing threats to the city’s regulated 바카라 sector.
From January to May 2025, the force investigated a total of 943 gaming-related criminal cases, marking a 62.9 percent increase year-on-year. Of these, 204 cases, or 21.6 percent were directly linked to unauthorised money exchanges for gambling purposes, Sit Chong Meng, who briefed media on 11 July 2025.
Fraud also saw a dramatic spike. According to official data, police managed 251 cases of gaming-related fraud, showing a 93.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. These cases often involved schemes such as identity theft, fake betting platforms, and counterfeit 바카라 chips.
Shadow economy back in focus
The surge has renewed concerns about the shadow economy operating alongside Macau’s tightly regulated gaming industry. Unlicensed money exchange was officially criminalised under the “Law to Combat Crimes of Illegal Gambling”, which came into force on 29 October 2024.
The law classifies unlicensed currency exchange as a criminal trade activity—even if conducted outside 바카라 premises—and authorises penalties of up to five years in prison. Offenders can also face 바카라-entry bans ranging from two to ten years under Article 11 of the legislation.
The current spike follows an already active 2024, when Macau recorded 1,423 gaming-related crime cases—a 28.6 percent increase from 2023. However, this figure remained 34 percent lower than in 2019, reflecting post-pandemic fluctuations.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, crime rose steeply, with 567 cases, a 61.5 percent jump compared to Q1 2024. Authorities attribute this acceleration mainly to unlicensed money exchange operations, which now account for approximately 23 percent of all gambling-related crime.
Gambling fraud holds the crown
Despite all the stringent measures, fraud remains a dominant concern in Macau. Law enforcement has intensified its response. In 2024, 3,185 individuals associated with illegal exchange syndicates were intercepted, and 658 related criminal cases were logged. Since the criminal law was enacted in late 2024, police have arrested over 120 suspects and seized more than HK$11 million (€1.28 million) in cash and gaming chips.
Macau’s Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, has labelled the law “effective” and credited it with disrupting underground financial flows that could otherwise damage the credibility of the local gaming industry.
Crackdown not limited to Macau alone
The crackdown extends beyond Macau’s borders. In collaboration with mainland Chinese authorities, police have dismantled 263 cross-border syndicates, intercepting more than ¥ 80 billion (€10.1 billion) in illicit flows tied to underground gambling and unlicensed money exchanges.
Enforcement campaigns such as “Winter Preventive Operation” and “Thunderstorm Operation” have specifically targeted illegal currency dealers operating near 바카라s, online fraud networks, and individuals posing as tourists to facilitate criminal activity.
Officials say these coordinated efforts form part of a broader strategy to safeguard Macau’s financial system and preserve its standing as a globally recognised gaming hub.
