On April 29, 2026, Macau confirmed a structural shift in its gaming ecosystem: 2,373 gambling-related crimes recorded in 2025, a 63% increase year-on-year, driven by the enforcement of Law No. 20/2024, in force since October 28, 2024, which criminalizes activities previously operating in grey areas such as illegal currency exchange for gambling. The spike is regulatory, not systemic deterioration: illegal money exchange cases surged from 89 to 471, while fraud doubled to 667 cases, according to the Secretariat for Security led by Wong Sio Chak. Meanwhile, higher-risk crimes declined, with illegal lending down to 194 cases (-23%) and kidnapping to 28 (-40.4%), indicating a shift toward financial-flow-related offenses.
The legal framework is Law No. 16/2001, revised in 2022, which governs casino concessions through 2032, supported by Law No. 2/2006 and Law No. 3/2006, covering anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. Oversight is handled by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau led by Ng Man Seong, under Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai’s administration, with the economic portfolio in transition following the departure of Tai Kin Ip in April 2026.
Wong Sio Chak
In 2025, gross gaming revenue reached approximately $30.9 billion (+9.1%), with an official projection of $29.4 billion for 2026. In the first two months of 2026 alone, revenue totaled around $5.39 billion (+13.9%), including 24% growth in January. The market is concentrated among six concessionaires—MGM, Galaxy, Venetian, Melco, Wynn and SJM—holding licenses valid through 2032.
A 35% tax on GGR, with additional contributions pushing the effective rate close to 40%, funding social programs, infrastructure and economic development make higher recorded crime reflects greater transparency and control over financial flows outside the regulated channel, reinforcing system traceability.
The next phase will focus on deeper monitoring of payment systems, currency exchange networks and cross-border financial activity, further reducing parallel-market exposure and strengthening Macau’s position as the world’s tightly regulated and fiscally efficient gaming hub.
