Macau authorities opened 760 illegal gambling investigations in the past judicial year | AGB
Summary
Macau prosecutors opened 760 investigations into illegal gambling-related crimes in the last judicial year — an increase of 435 cases from the previous year, the city’s Prosecutor General Tong Hio Fong said. The surge is largely due to Law No. 20/2024, which criminalises unlicensed currency exchange linked to gambling. Tong reported that 410 of the investigations were specifically for illegal currency exchange. Authorities say the rise reflects stepped-up enforcement after reforms tightening junket supervision and anti-money-laundering controls.
Key Points
- 760 illegal gambling-related investigations opened in the past judicial year — up 435 cases year-on-year.
- Law No. 20/2024 introduced a new offence criminalising illicit currency exchange for gambling; 410 investigations relate to this offence.
- The increase follows broader regulatory reforms: tougher oversight of junkets and stronger AML measures.
- Macau logged 1,139 gaming-related criminal investigation cases in H1 2025, a 66.8% rise from the same period last year.
- The push aims to create a ‘cleaner, more sustainable’ gaming sector and align Macau with central government expectations for long-term development.
Content Summary
Prosecutor General Tong Hio Fong outlined the figures at Macau’s judicial year opening ceremony, attributing the marked increase in investigations mainly to the new offence targeting illicit money-changing activities tied to gambling.
The new law, effective earlier this year, criminalises previously common unlicensed currency exchange operations that served as informal payment channels for gaming. The prosecution’s report shows enforcement has pivoted to pursue underground financial activity and unregulated intermediaries operating around the gaming sector.
Officials view the crackdown as part of a wider reform package intended to reduce systemic AML risks, curtail junket-related problems and support economic diversification by making the industry more transparent and sustainable.
Context and Relevance
This development matters to casino operators, junket networks, compliance teams, investors and regulators. The criminalisation of illicit currency exchange removes a long-standing grey area in Macau’s gaming economy and signals a tougher enforcement era. Operators may face higher compliance costs and increased scrutiny of cash flows and third-party intermediaries.
For the region, the move is consistent with broader trends of stricter AML enforcement and regulatory tightening across major gaming hubs. It also reflects pressure from mainland authorities for Macau to clean up practices perceived as risky or unsustainable.
Why should I read this
Short version — if you have skin in Macau’s gaming scene (operator, investor, regulator or supplier), this is a wake-up call. A new law has turned a long-standing informal money-exchange practice into a prosecutable offence, and enforcement has ramped up hard and fast. Read the details so you know how risk exposure, compliance obligations and business models might need to change.
