Macau recorded 1,139 gaming-related criminal investigation cases in the first half of 2025, a 456-case increase compared to the same period last year, representing a 66.8 percent rise, according to Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak.
The official attributed the surge primarily to the criminalization of so-called illegal money exchangers under the city’s anti-illegal gambling law, which came into effect in October 2024. The change broadened the scope of offenses categorized as gaming-related, while police also stepped up enforcement and cross-border cooperation to dismantle multiple criminal groups.
Police opened 240 cases of illegal money exchange operations for gambling purposes, representing nearly 40 percent of all gaming-linked crimes in the 2024 period and emerging as the main driver of the overall increase. The steady influx of visitors, which added uncertainty to public security conditions, was also cited as a contributing factor.
Illegal money exchanger arrests decline sharply
Despite the higher overall number of cases, police reported a major drop in the number of illegal money exchangers intercepted in gaming districts. In the first half of 2025, a total of 410 individuals were stopped, down 1,805 from last year, a steep decline of 81.5 percent.
During the same period, police broke up 277 cases involving illegal money exchange, including 234 prosecuted directly under the new law, with others reclassified after further investigation. These cases led to 406 arrests and the seizure of cash and casino chips worth nearly MOP60 million, effectively curbing disorder in and around casinos.
Loan-sharking cases and crimes involving illegal confinement linked to gambling also declined. Loan sharking dropped 17.2 percent year-on-year to 101 cases, while confinement fell 43.5 percent to 13 cases. Wong said the decreases reflect the effectiveness of targeted enforcement and the improved legal framework.
Authorities remain vigilant
Wong noted that while illegal currency exchange has been significantly curtailed, rising tourist arrivals mean security risks persist, and money exchanger groups could re-emerge or shift into other crimes such as theft, loan sharking, or fraud.
Regarding satellite casinos set to close or change operations before the end of 2025 under Macau’s revised gaming law, Wong said authorities have not observed any related security problems so far but will continue close monitoring. The Security Bureau pledged to adapt strategies in line with evolving crime trends to safeguard Macau’s residents and visitors.
Fraud, loan sharking among top offenses
In the same media briefing on Friday, September 19th, police authorities reported that fraud remained the most common gaming-related offense, with 297 cases, accounting for 26.1 percent of the total. Illegal currency exchange ranked second with 240 cases (21.1 percent), followed by loan sharking with 101 cases (8.9 percent). Theft and misappropriation of property each recorded 87 cases (7.6 percent), while violations of casino entry bans amounted to 64 cases (5.6 percent). Other offenses each represented less than 5 percent of the total.
Of the 1,348 suspects involved in these crimes, 198 were Macau residents (14.7 percent), while 1,150 were non-residents (85.3 percent). Victims were also mostly non-residents, totaling 608 out of 671 individuals, or 90.6 percent. Wong emphasized that the data indicates such crimes remain largely non-localized, with both suspects and victims mainly from outside Macau.
