Macau blocks 36,000 illegal gambling sites in first half of 2024

Macau's government blocked more than 36,000 illegal gambling websites in the first half of 2024, as part of an ongoing effort to crack down on illicit online gambling sites that impersonate legitimate operators in the region, an official report said on Monday.

“Illegal gambling websites often pretend to be those of Macau’s gaming operators, which not only undermines the safety of public property, but also hurts the image of Macau’s gaming industry,” the Office of the Secretary for Security said in a statement.

To combat the rise in illegal online gambling, Macau’s Judiciary Police have been collaborating with the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, as well as legal gaming operators. This effort forms part of a “three-way joint effort mechanism” that was set up in 2022 to strengthen oversight and enforcement.

The Macau government also highlighted increased cooperation with authorities in neighboring regions, including Hong Kong and mainland China’s Guangdong province, to tackle cross-border crime syndicates involved in illegal gambling.

One such collaboration, dubbed "Break Peak," led to the busting of a cross-border illegal online sports betting syndicate in June. The operation uncovered more than MOP1 billion ($124.6 million) in criminal proceeds and involved syndicate members from Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China.

Other crackdowns in 2024 have led to the arrest of 50 individuals involved in similar cross-border operations, including a security officer. Authorities also reported breaking up a loan-sharking syndicate targeting Hong Kong gamblers who travel to Macau.

In addition to these efforts, the Macau government is pushing for legislative amendments to further combat illegal gambling activities. A proposed bill, currently under review in the Legislative Assembly, would impose prison sentences of one to eight years for individuals found guilty of operating, promoting, or organizing unauthorized online gambling or mutual betting in Macau.