Macau’s Legislative Assembly has published a new bill titled “Law to combat illegal gambling crimes”, which updates provisions related to online gambling and sets out prison sentences for those deemed to have taken part.
Under the new law, first announced by the Executive Council on 11 December but only made public this week, anyone involved in the unauthorized operation of gambling, including those who use the results of betting in casinos to operate illegal gambling, will be sentenced to imprisonment of between one and eight years.
Anyone who participates in illegal gambling will be sentenced to a maximum of six months’ imprisonment, while those who are present where illegal gambling is taking place will face 90 days in prison.
The former reference to unauthorized operation of gambling is believed to target “betting under the table”, which was at the center of recent trials against former Suncity Group Chairman Alvin Chau and Tak Chun CEO Levo Chan.
It is also mentioned in the text that a person who assists or participates in any way to operate illegal gambling will be sentenced to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment or face a fine of 360 days. In Macau, fines can be imposed in exchange for penalties, ranging from a minimum of a 10-day fine to a maximum of a 360-day fine. One-day fines range from MOP$50 to MOP$10,000 (US$6 to US$1,240).
In addition, if a person places illegal online bets they will be sentenced to a maximum of six months’ imprisonment; and if they are present at a place where illegal gambling is being conducted, they will face a 90-day fine.
