Macau’s Judiciary Police investigated 716 alleged gaming crimes from January through September of this year—up 178.6 percent over the same period in 2022. However, the number of crimes dropped by more than half—55.2 percent—compared to the same period in 2019.
The world’s gaming capital was essentially closed for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese special administrative region (SAR) did not reopen its borders until January 8 of this year. In a December 4 briefing, Macau Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said the rise in criminal activity was “inevitable” as business resumed.
According to GGRAsia, scams and thefts topped the list of gaming-related crimes.
“The typical gaming-related crimes—usury and kidnap—saw a year-on-year increase, but both types saw a huge decline when compared to pre-Covid level,” said Wong. Police probed 67 suspected gaming-related usury cases in the first nine months—an increase of 168 percent from 2022, but a decline of 85.8 percent from 2019.
Gaming-related kidnappings rose from a single case in 2022 to 12 in 2023. But again, that category of crime was also down 95.6 percent from the same period in 2019, Wong said.
The nine-month period also saw police intercept 9,633 “money-exchange gang members,” an increase of 230 percent year-on-year, while the number of fraud cases involving “money changers” rose to 137, reported Inside Asian Gaming.
Earlier this year, Macau legislators announced that they may criminalize illegal money-exchange activities around the city’s casinos. As Wong said, “In order to further curb money-exchange gang members and increase the cost of their offenses, the relevant laws on illegal money exchange activities will be filled in and the penalties will be improved.
“Following in-depth research, the Judiciary Police has submitted a proposal on the feasibility of criminalizing illegal money exchange activities to the legal department.
“It is hoped this will increase the cost of their crimes and enhance the police’s efficiency in law enforcement.”
