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HomeNewsMacauMacau's 2024 gaming-related crime up by 28.6% yearly, but still 34% lower than in 2019

Macau’s 2024 gaming-related crime up by 28.6% yearly, but still 34% lower than in 2019

Macau’s gaming-related crimes saw an uptick in 2024, with the Judiciary Police (PJ) reporting 1,423 cases, a 28.6 percent rise compared to the previous year. However, when compared to 2019, the total remains 34 percent lower.

In a pre-Chinese New Year meeting with local media on Tuesday, the PJ indicated that cases involving illegal gambling loans and related unlawful detentions stood at 252 and 47, respectively. Both figures were higher than those in 2023 but still significantly lower than in 2019.

The PJ also noted that they have further strengthened their collaboration with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) and gaming operators to improve security both inside and outside casino areas.

Macau's illicit money exchange for gambling may lead to 5 years in jail

120 money exchangers arrested

Since the laws criminalizing illegal money exchange for gaming purposes came into effect on October 29th of last year, some of the most significant operations carried out were crackdowns on illegal money exchangers. 

Under the coordination of the Ministry of Public Security in Mainland China, the PJ launched several targeted operations against money laundering syndicates linked to illegal gambling. These efforts resulted in the arrest of 120 individuals and the seizure of over MOP11 million ($1.4 million) in cash and gaming chips.

Telecom scams

In the same meeting, the PJ reported that telecommunications and online fraud remain major concerns in Macau. In 2024, the PJ recorded 354 cases of telephone fraud, a 13 percent decline from the previous year. However, online fraud cases increased by 4 percent.

Despite the rise in online scams, the PJ emphasized that the growth rate has slowed significantly. The increase in 2024 was much smaller compared to the previous year, where the growth rate was 42.8 percent.

Authorities believe that the heightened public awareness, driven by years of anti-fraud campaigns, has played a role in mitigating the growth of such crimes.

In addition, phishing messages and fraudulent websites designed to steal credit card information have seen a significant increase in Macau. In 2024, 689 cases were reported, marking a 1.1-fold increase from the previous year. These scams caused over MOP14 million ($1.8 million) in losses to both businesses and individuals, making them the largest-growing category of online crime in the region.

Viviana Chan
Viviana Chanhttps://agbrief.com/
Viviana Chan is an editor, interpreter, and journalist. With over a decade of experience, she writes in English, Chinese, and Portuguese. Viviana started her career in Macau-based newspapers, where she became passionate about the region's social, financial, and cultural development. Her writing focuses on the economy, emerging industries, gaming development, political affairs, and cross cultural-exchange in the business and cultural domains. She is avid for news and eager to discover and cover stories that generate public relevance.

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