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The security agencies in Macau made tremendous progress against illicit gaming in the first half of 2024. “More than 36,000” illicit gambling websites were reportedly blocked, according to the Office of the Secretary for Security.
Web sites that impersonate reputable Macau casino firms are the focus of the crackdown. The Office claimed that “illegal gambling websites frequently pose as those of Macau’s gaming operators, undermining both the safety of public property and the industry’s reputation in the gaming sector.”
To address this issue, Macau’s Judiciary Police have been working closely with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. Their joint efforts aim to dismantle sites misrepresenting Macau’s casino brands. Since 2022, a collaborative action mechanism involving the city’s casino operators has been in place to address these fraudulent sites. However, the report does not specify which casino brands were misused.
Authorities carried out a big operation called “Break Peak” in June. This operation targeted a cross-border syndicate engaged in illicit online gambling, working with authorities from Guangdong province and Hong Kong. With operations in Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China, the syndicate was connected to illicit proceeds worth over MOP1 billion, or US$124.6 million.
To further combat unlawful online gaming, the Macau government is also contemplating legislative amendments. The proposed measure, which is now being discussed in the Legislative Assembly, calls for jail terms of one to eight years for anybody convicted of running or encouraging illicit online gaming or mutual betting in Macau.