Macau enforces new law against unauthorized gambling

Macau enforced a new law against unauthorized gambling in late October 2024, superseding a legal precedent that had been in place since 1996¹. The law, described as the "Law to Combat Crimes of Illegal Gambling," was approved last October and created the crime of unlicensed foreign exchange trading².

The legislation officially banned Hong Kong's Mark Six lottery in Macau. Since October, any operations or sales related to Mark Six carry a maximum prison term of two years or financial penalties of up to 240 days' worth of fines². Before the law passed, Mark Six tickets, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, were occasionally found in Macau, particularly through family-run or small to medium-sized businesses². Lawmaker Ron Lam had asked the Government to legalize the sale of Mark Six tickets, calling it a "deep-rooted and harmless popular custom of Macau residents," but his plea was unsuccessful².

In September 2024, before the law took effect, police announced the arrest of a woman who had been reselling Mark Six lottery tickets in Taipa for MOP52, despite their face value being HKD47. She made a profit of around HKD3.50 per ticket².

The law followed a surge in illegal money exchange activity. Figures from 2023 show Macau police intercepted a total of 11,870 individuals involved in illegal money exchange, a rise of 239 percent, or 8,365 individuals, compared to 2022. Against pre-pandemic levels in 2019, that marked an increase of 41.3 percent². Experts linked the surge to the end of the VIP business as it existed before the pandemic and to difficulties in obtaining legal funds, including the annual limit of CNY 100,000 imposed by China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange on overseas withdrawals from bank accounts in China².

Suspicious transaction reports filed by Macau's gaming operators reached a record 3,837 last year, an 11.8 percent increase year-on-year and the highest annual tally since the Financial Intelligence Office was established in 2006. Gaming operators were responsible for 73.2 percent of the total 5,245 reports submitted across Macau last year, itself a new annual record².

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled for 11 June to 19 July with Canada, Mexico and the United States as hosts, the Judiciary Police ran a community campaign urging residents, particularly young people, to refrain from taking part in illegal football betting¹. The campaign ran between 2 and 8 June alongside young volunteers, targeting bars, leisure areas and public spaces, with youth-oriented prevention highlighted as a focus¹.

Authorities also strengthened school engagement, distributing materials to the underage near educational premises and areas where young people gathered, and extended the campaign online to social media platforms¹.

What it means for players

The law changes the legal position of several activities that were previously tolerated in Macau. Selling or operating Mark Six lottery tickets is now a criminal offense carrying up to two years in prison or fines of up to 240 days' worth². Unlicensed foreign exchange trading is now a specific crime². The police campaign states that people involved in illegal football betting face criminal liability as well as financial losses¹.

The rules apply to anyone in Macau, including locals, expats and visitors. The Mark Six ban covers sales and operations, and the enforcement action reported involved a reseller in Taipa². The football betting warnings were aimed at young people in particular, but the government statement describes criminal liability for anyone involved¹.

What happens next

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from 11 June to 19 July, with Canada, Mexico and the United States as hosts¹. The Judiciary Police campaign ran from 2 to 8 June¹. No further enforcement dates have been reported.