Macau reports 1,278 gaming crimes in H1
Fraud accounted for the largest share of gaming-related crime, rising 23.6 per cent year-on-year.
Macau.- Reports of gaming-related crime in Macau rose 12.2 per cent year-on-year to 1,278 cases during the first six months of 2026. That’s according to the latest figures released by the Office of the Secretary for Security today.
Fraud accounted for the largest share of gaming-related crime, rising 23.6 per cent year-on-year to 367 cases. Illegal money exchange accounted for 259 cases, up 7.9 per cent, and misappropriation 29 cases, up 141.7 per cent.
Unlawful possession of lost property rose 25.3 per cent to 109 cases, while theft increased 11.5 per cent to 97 cases. Assault cases rose from 36 to 49, a 36.1 per cent increase. Extortion remained level at 15 cases.
By comparison, cases involving gambling-related loansharking fell 13.9 per cent year-on-year to 87, while unlawful detention linked to gambling activities dropped 53.8 per cent to six cases.
Judiciary police director Sit Chong Meng said many casino fraud cases were linked to illegal money exchange. During the first half of 2026, police investigated about 250 illegal money exchange cases, arrested 322 suspected money changers and seized more than HK$16m (US$2.04m) in cash and casino chips.
Sit noted that joint operations with mainland Chinese authorities since 2024 have dismantled two major syndicates and said the Judiciary Police will continue working with Macau’s six casino concessionaires to strengthen enforcement against the activity.
