Chan Chak Mo, who heads the Legislative Assembly committee studying the bill against gambling crimes, told media on 9 August 2024 that a new provision would be added to criminalize illegal money exchanges that take place on casino premises1. Under the provision, all ancillary facilities specifically used for the operation of gambling, and other ancillary facilities dedicated to art, cultural, recreational, business or hotel-related activities, will be considered part of the "casino"1.
The move follows action by China's Ministry of Public Security, which in June initiated efforts to combat illegal money exchanges and urged security forces in Macau and the mainland to strengthen cooperation in cracking down on such businesses in the Macau SAR1. The so-called "money changers", present around the city's casinos, have been identified as a key method for moving funds across different jurisdictions, particularly between the mainland and Macau1.
Analysts at J.P. Morgan said in a Monday update that it is "no longer easy to find such fund exchange providers in/around casinos", with market participants no longer expecting their return in the foreseeable future1. The same report put Macau's gross gaming revenue for the first 11 days of August at MOP7.1 billion (US$890 million), with last week's daily run-rate improving sequentially to MOP657 million per day, which it described as "meaningfully above the MOP590 million/MOP600 million daily run-rates in June/July"1. The brokerage estimated mass GGR at around 110 percent of the pre-Covid level, while VIP segment GGR was around "low to mid-20s percent" of the 2019 level1. It kept its August forecast unchanged at around MOP19-19.5 billion, or MOP610-630 million per day1.
"a new provision would be added to criminalize illegal money exchanges that take place on casino premises"
What it means for players
The provision targets money exchange activity on casino premises, and the definition of "casino" extends to ancillary facilities used for gambling and to facilities for art, cultural, recreational, business or hotel-related activities1. For anyone gambling in Macau, that widens the area in which an unauthorized exchange could fall under the bill, beyond the gaming floor itself. The practical effect reported so far is availability: analysts say such exchange providers are no longer easy to find in or around casinos1. The bill's text, its penalties and its commencement date have not been reported. General rules inside Macau casinos are set out in the guide to rules inside Macau casinos, and the wider legal position for visitors and residents is covered in gambling law for visitors and expats in Asia.
What happens next
The bill is still before a Legislative Assembly committee, which Chan Chak Mo heads1. No date has been reported for a final vote or for the provision to take effect. The June enforcement push by China's Ministry of Public Security, and the cooperation it sought between Macau and mainland security forces, remain the stated basis for the crackdown1.
