Macau gaming-related crime jumps 70% after new law changes
Gaming-related crime in Macau rose sharply in the first three quarters of 2025, but authorities say the increase reflects a change in legal classification rather than a deterioration in public safety.
Police recorded 1,737 gaming-related cases between January and September, up 70.1 percent year-on-year from 1,021 cases in the same period in 2024, according to data released by the city’s Secretary for Security, Chan Tsz King, on 12 December 2025.
Officials said the surge followed the implementation of Macau’s Anti-Illegal Gambling Crime Law, which came into force in October 2024, and significantly broadened the definition of gaming-related offences.
Surge due to new currency exchange law
This surge is primarily caused by the recent legal changes in the city. Under the new legislation introduced in 2025, illegal currency exchanges for gambling are now officially criminal offences. The law targets unlicensed money changers, often operating near casinos, who offer cash exchange services to gamblers outside the regulated financial system.
According to Chan, previously, fraud or criminal cases involving such money exchangers were often not classified as gaming-related crimes, as authorities could not always prove a direct link to gambling activity. As a result, these cases were typically recorded under general fraud or financial crime categories.
But this new legislation removes that ambiguity. Any unauthorised currency exchange linked to gambling is now treated as a standalone criminal offence and is automatically included in gaming-related crime statistics. Police also expanded the overall statistical scope of gaming crime following the law’s introduction, contributing to the rise in recorded cases.
Numbers not concerning
Officials stressed that the jump in numbers was therefore statistical rather than structural, and did not reflect worsening security conditions in the city. Despite the rise in gaming-related offences, Macau’s overall crime rate declined during the same period. Total criminal cases fell 7.1 percent year-on-year to 10,058 cases in the first three quarters of 2025.
Authorities reported declines across several major crime categories, including violent crime, theft, robbery, fraud and cybercrime. Serious violent crime remained particularly low, with 187 cases recorded, down 11 percent from a year earlier. Incidents such as kidnapping, homicide and serious assault continued to register zero or minimal cases.
Police detained 4,475 individuals during criminal investigations and operations, representing an 8.8 percent increase from 2024. Officials said the higher detention figure reflected more proactive enforcement rather than an increase in violent criminal behaviour.
Satellite closure continues
Chan also addressed concerns surrounding satellite casinos, which are required under Macau’s Gaming Law to either close or change their operating model by the end of 2025. He added that no suspicious circumstances had been found thus far and that police had increased intelligence collection and risk assessments to monitor any possible impact on public order.
Efforts to combat telecom and cyber fraud have also shown results, with reported cases of telephone scams, online fraud and computer-related fraud all declining sharply. However, Chan warned that fraud tactics are evolving, highlighting the first reported use of AI deepfake technology in fraud cases in Macau in April 2025. The three cases resulted in no financial losses.
Authorities also confirmed that 11 Macau residents, mostly young people, including one minor, had travelled overseas to engage in illegal activities, including telecom fraud.
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