Macau Allows Three Concessionaires to Offer Currency Exchange Services

Macau has allowed three of its concessionaires to offer currency exchange services per a new order. This decision means that visitors will now experience less hassle and more gaming.

More Than a Dozen Casinos Will Be Allowed to Exchange Currencies

On Monday, the government of the special administrative region of Macau confirmed that it has allowed three of its casino concessionaires to run currency exchange businesses on the premises of their properties.

The order was signed by Macau’s chief executive officer, Sam Hou Fai, and published in the Official Gazette.

Per the new order, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts, and SJM Holdings have been allowed to exchange currencies at their casinos. The affected properties include the following:

• Broadway Casino (Galaxy Entertainment Group)
• Galaxy Macau Casino (Galaxy Entertainment Group)
• StarWorld Casino (Galaxy Entertainment Group)
• Altira Casino (Melco Resorts)
• City of Dreams Casino (Melco Resorts)
• Mocha Golden Dragon (Melco Resorts)
• Mocha Inner Harbour (Melco Resorts)
• Mocha Sintra (Melco Resorts)
• Studio City Casino (Melco Resorts)
• Lisboa Casino (SJM Holdings)
• Grand Lisboa Casino (SJM Holdings)
• Grand Lisboa Palace Casino (SJM Holdings)
• Macau Le Royal Arc Casino (SJM Holdings)
• Oceanus Casino (SJM Holdings)

The order is set to come into effect on February 24, 2026.

For context, Macau boasts strict regulations on currency exchange, especially when it comes to gambling. Operators are strictly prohibited from offering currency exchange services unless explicitly allowed. Parties found guilty of offering illegal gambling-related currency exchange risk up to five years in prison.

Macau Police Cracked Down on Illegal Exchange

Speaking of illegal currency exchange, Macau authorities recently dismantled an illegal money exchange operation in a jewelry store inside a Cotai casino. The crackdown led to the arrest of a single woman believed to have facilitated nearly $5.1 million in unregulated exchanges for gamblers.

In addition to arresting the woman, authorities seized $12,203 in cash, several mobile phones, and a laptop. Experts are now further probing the store to see whether its owner was involved in the scheme.