(AsiaGameHub) –   Macau saw a higher volume of gaming-related criminal cases in 2025, primarily after local authorities added unlicensed gambling-linked currency exchange to the illegal gambling criminal framework.

Key Facts

• A total of 2,373 gaming-related offences were recorded in Macau in 2025.
• Unlicensed currency exchange cases jumped to 471 from 89 recorded in the prior year.
• Both gambling-related illegal lending and kidnapping cases registered declines.

Unlicensed Currency Exchange Fuels Rise in Case Numbers

According to figures from the Office of the Secretary for Security, Macau law enforcement opened 2,373 gaming-related criminal cases in 2025, representing a 63% increase from the 1,456 cases logged in 2024.

The uptick was not driven by a single type of offence. A legislative adjustment played a core role. The “Law to Combat Crimes of Illegal Gambling” took effect on October 29, 2024, offering police a clearer legal basis to crack down on unlicensed money exchange connected to gambling activities.

“The increase was mainly caused by the criminalisation of unlicensed currency exchange for gambling purposes under the ‘Law to Combat Crimes of Illegal Gambling’, as well as revisions made by authorities to the statistical standards for gambling-related criminal cases,” the office stated.

Unlicensed money exchange cases climbed to 471 in 2025, compared with 89 recorded one year prior. Fraud cases also doubled to 667 from 333, with authorities linking a large number of these incidents to unauthorised currency exchange operations surrounding local casinos.

Some violent or confrontational offences also saw increases. Robbery cases rose to 14 from four, while offences including assault, intimidation and similar acts went up by 59.6%.

However, Macau officials noted that the most serious categories of gambling-linked crime remained at low levels. Illegal lending for gambling fell 23% to 194 cases, while kidnapping incidents dropped 40.4% to 28 cases.

“For offences that previously had a severe impact on public security, specifically illegal gambling lending and kidnapping, 194 and 28 cases were recorded respectively, marking a decrease of 23.0 percent and 40.4 percent compared with 2024 figures,” the office added.

Cases involving organised criminal syndicates and illegal gambling activities, including under-the-table betting, also fell by more than 50%.

Across all crime categories, Macau police launched 13,458 criminal investigations in 2025, a 5.9% year-on-year decrease. The office stated that serious violent crime, fraud and cybercrime all trended downward overall, attributing the trend to police crime prevention efforts and enhanced public awareness.