Macau Blocks 36K Illegal Gambling Sites in H1

The Macau Office of the Secretary for Security has published its report on gambling crime for the first half of the year. This provided insight into the crime-related challenges the special administrative region’s gambling sector has been facing and the authorities’ success in tackling them.

Macau Has Blocked Thousands of Illegal Websites in 2024 Alone

According to the Office of the Secretary for Security, Macau has blocked a whopping 36,000 illegal gambling websites in H1 alone. This significant figure highlights the SAR’s intense effort to protect the local industry from illegal foreign competition but also demonstrates the huge challenges of fighting the black market.

The office noted that illegal operators would often falsely claim that they are affiliated with Macau’s licensees. This, according to the authorities, is very dangerous because it undermines the image of the local gaming industry in addition to exposing consumers to harm.

The Office of the Secretary for Security remains bullish on preventing crime and illegal gambling. To that end, it has been strengthening its cooperation with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, according to the report. This tie-up has bolstered the office’s capabilities to identify and block illegal gambling websites.

Fighting illegal gambling has always been at the top of the list of priorities in Macau. Since 2022, Macau’s Judicial Police, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, and gambling operators have been working hard to prevent illegal online companies from establishing a foothold in the SAR.

As mentioned, many of the unlicensed websites hijack the identities of legal operators, often fooling customers into expending money. While authorities did not confirm which operators’ identities have been used by the illegal companies, the latest report mentioned that they accumulate millions in illegal proceeds.

Recent Operation Busted a Criminal Syndicate

The H1 report touched upon a recent special operation called Break Peak, which saw authorities in mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong join forces to crack down on a cross-border syndicate running illegal online gambling.  

The illegal gambling operation in question had accumulated over $120 million, which suggests that some illegal gaming operators are very popular and profitable.

As the threat of illegal online gambling continues to grow, lawmakers proposed a measure that would introduce heftier sentences for people involved in criminal online gambling. If the bill is passed into law, those who organize, operate or promote illegal online gambling or betting would risk up to eight years in prison.