Macau legislative committee confirms no plans for online gambling

A Macau legislative committee has officially stated that there are no plans to permit online gambling in the special administrative region, according to GGR Asia. This announcement comes as part of a position document released prior to the passing of a stringent new illegal gambling bill.

The bill, which was passed on Wednesday, reinforces the current prohibition on online gambling services for Macau's six licensed casino operators. While the legislation allows for certain "interactive games" that utilize telecommunication methods, it explicitly excludes any form of online gambling.

The opinion document stated, quoting the local government: “To date, the Macau SAR [Special Administrative Region] Government has not granted any concession for the exploration of online gaming and betting, nor does it have any plans to grant a concession for online gaming.”

The new illegal gambling legislation includes tough penalties, imposing sentences of up to eight years in prison for individuals found organizing unauthorized online gambling activities. 

Lawmakers highlighted the necessity of these measures as part of their effort to combat the increasing popularity of illicit online gambling within the region. The new law specifically mentions a ban on any operation or promotion of unauthorized online gambling activities.