Macau casino operators filed 3,431 suspicion transaction reports (STRs) in 2023, up 170 percent from the 2022 number, according to the city’s Financial Intelligence Office (GIF). That’s the highest number since GIF began publishing the data in 2006. Of the 2023 total, 116 were forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.
Macao News attributed the surge to the return of post-pandemic tourism, a strong rebound by the gaming industry, as well as stronger efforts by the industry to root out illicit transactions. Casino operators in the city are obligated to inform the government about any gambling transaction that exceeds MOP500,000 (US$62,075).
As reported by GGRAsia, financial institutions and insurance companies also observed the spike in STRs: 887 cases in 2023 compared to 765 in 2022.
Fewer than 2,000 STRs were recorded in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
