Macau, October 12, 2026. The Macau government collected US$9.22 billion in gaming taxes, up 5.9% year-on-year, while casino-related crime increased 12.3% and suspicious financial transaction reports rose 7.9% between January and September. The three official reports reveal growing tax revenue alongside heightened indicators of criminal activity and anti-money laundering risks.
The Financial Services Bureau (DSF), headed by Ho Silvestre In Mui, recorded MOP 74.56 billion in gaming tax revenue. September contributed MOP 8.39 billion (+7.4% month-on-month). Gaming taxes accounted for 84.1% of the government's MOP 88.71 billion in current revenue.
Ng Wai Han
Under Secretary for Economy and Finance Ng Wai Han, Macau maintains an effective tax burden of 40% on gross gaming revenue (GGR) under the concession framework introduced in January 2023. Collections reached 80.6% of the annual target of MOP 92.53 billion.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has ruled out revising the MOP 236 billion GGR forecast for 2026 for now, despite September recording MOP 17.84 billion (−1.2% year-on-year).
Meanwhile, the Office of the Secretary for Security, headed by Chan Tsz King, reported 1,951 gaming-related crimes, including 558 fraud cases (+21.3%), 404 illegal currency exchange cases (+11.9%), and 132 illegal lending cases (−12.6%).
The Judiciary Police, led by Sit Chong Meng, also investigated an alleged extortion network involving security personnel at a Cotai casino. Prosecutors confirmed on September 5 that five defendants were being held in pretrial detention.
Sit Chong Meng
The Financial Intelligence Office (GIF), operating under the Unitary Police Service, received 2,968 suspicious transaction reports from the gaming sector (+7.9%), accounting for 71.7% of Macau's 4,138 reports (+10.3%).
The indicators include chip conversions involving little or no significant gambling activity and transactions conducted on behalf of third parties. During 2025, authorities identified 1,469 reports involving chip conversions without meaningful gaming activity, a persistent pattern under AML/KYC monitoring.
