The Office of the Secretary for Security of Macau said Wednesday there were 1,107 cases of gaming crime in 2023, an increase of 736 cases or 198% compared to 2022.
The figures included 257 cases of fraud in relation to gaming, plus 198 cases of theft, 151 cases of unjust enrichment, 119 cases of profiteering and 33 cases of detention, among others. All were significantly higher than in 2022.
However, the 1,107 gaming offenses was still 1,050 fewer than in 2019.
According to government data, the suspects of gaming-related crimes in 2023 included 183 Macau residents, 884 mainland China residents, 78 Hong Kong residents, three Taiwan residents and 16 foreigners.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said, “The increase in the total number of gaming-related crimes in 2023 as compared with 2022 is believed to be related to the increase in the number of tourists as well as the recovery of the gaming industry.”
The fact that the number of crimes remains significantly lower than 2019 was, according to Wong, due to the effectiveness of the police’s preventive work.
In 2023, Macau police in collaboration with concessionaires intercepted a total of 11,870 “Money Exchange Gang Members”, an increase of 8,365 or 239% compared to 2022. They also notified the DICJ of 2,048 instances and imposed a ban on their entry into gaming venues.
Wong pointed out that with the recovery of the gaming industry, the number of money exchange gangs has increased significantly and their activities have become more frequent. The police will continue to step up their efforts to prevent these gangs from entering the market, he added.
“The police will continue to strengthen the prevention and combat of illegal money-changing activities and their derivative crimes to clean up the law and order environment and ensure the healthy development of the gaming industry in Macau,” he said.
