Macau recorded 1,951 gaming-related crimes in the first nine months of 2026, up 12.3% from 1,737 cases a year earlier, according to the Office of the Secretary for Security.
Fraud remained the largest category, with 558 cases, representing 28.6% of all gaming-related offences. That figure increased 21.3% year-on-year and accounted for a substantial share of the overall rise.
Illegal money exchange for gambling purposes ranked second, with 404 cases, up 11.9%. Macau criminalized this activity in October 2024.
Fraud and Money Exchange Drive the Increase
The latest figures show that the rise in gaming-related crime was concentrated mainly in fraud and unauthorized currency exchange.
Other categories declined. As reported by GGRAsia, illegal lending for gambling fell 12.6% to 132 cases, while unlawful detention linked to gaming dropped 57.1% to nine.
Gaming-related assault moved higher, increasing 26.6% to 81 cases. Breaches of casino-entry bans fell 42.2% to 63.
Authorities have previously classified illegal lending and related detention offences as serious threats to public safety, making the declines in those categories notable within the broader gaming-crime picture.
Police Continue Casino and Online Enforcement
The report also referred to a July investigation involving casino security personnel.
Authorities arrested 15 alleged key members of a suspected criminal group, including its suspected leader, in connection with offences including organized crime, extortion and coercion.
The operation allegedly involved security personnel identifying suspected wrongdoers inside a Cotai casino and demanding payment in exchange for not reporting them to police.
Five defendants, including the alleged ringleader, were placed in pre-trial detention, according to a September 5 update from the Public Prosecution Office.
Macau’s Judiciary Police also worked with the gaming industry to take down more than 77,000 illegal gambling websites during the first nine months of the year.
Authorities said they are continuing to strengthen cooperation with government departments and industry while increasing the use of technology and cross-jurisdiction intelligence sharing.
Overall Crime Falls Slightly
The increase in gaming-related offences contrasted with Macau’s broader crime trend.
Police recorded nearly 10,000 criminal cases between January and September, down 0.9% year-on-year.
General fraud decreased 8.5%, while computer-related crime fell 29.8%. Authorities also reported lower levels of telecommunications and online fraud, theft and drug-related offences.
Officials described Macau’s overall public-security situation as stable but said gaming-related illegal activity remains an area requiring continued attention.