The number of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) issued by Macau’s casino operators fell 58.7% through the first three months of 2020, according to statistics from the Financial Intelligence Office.
STRs from games of fortune numbered 356 between 1 January and 31 March 2020, down from 507 in the prior year period.
The total number of STRs from all sectors declined 13.3% from 699 to 606, although those from financial institutions and insurance companies increased from 169 to 181. There were also 69 STRs from other institutions compared with 23 in the first three months of 2019.
STRs from the gaming industry comprised a smaller percentage of all reports than previously with 58.7% of STRs compared with 72.5% during the same period last year – almost certainly aided by the 15-day closure of all Macau casinos in February and limited business due to border restrictions since their re-opening on account of COVID-19.
