• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 9 May 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

New law on illegal gambling crimes passes through Macau’s Legislative Assembly

Pierce Chan by Pierce Chan
Thu 29 Feb 2024 at 04:15
New law on illegal gambling crimes passes through Macau’s Legislative Assembly
13
SHARES
326
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau’s new “Law to combat illegal gambling crimes” has been passe by the Legislative Assembly (AL) and will now be subject to discussion by the AL’s subcommittee.

The new law was first announced by the Macau Executive Council on 11 December last year and aims to comprehensively regulate the illegal operation of gaming, mutual betting, online gambling and the authorization of illegal borrowing for gambling purposes.

There are also provisions in the law that target “betting under the table”, which was a central component of recent court cases against former Suncity Group CEO Alvin Chau and Tak Chun Group’s Levo Chan.

“Anyone involved in the unauthorized operation of gambling, including those who use the results of betting in casinos to operate illegal gambling, will be sentenced to imprisonment of between one and eight years,” the law states.

Although the law was passed unanimously, quite a few members raised questions about the law – specifically a clause that states if a crime of illegal operation of gambling, mutual betting or online gambling is suspected of being committed, investigating officers may enter the home of the person under investigation without any limits on timing in order to search for evidence.

According to the first point of Article 162 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, a search of a person’s home shall not be conducted between 9 pm and 7am except with the consent of the person concerned. However, the “Law on Combating Illegal Gambling Crimes” appears to override this requirement.

Some AL members pointed out that the provision in The Code of Criminal Procedure is based on a human rights condition, then this law is a breach of human rights.

The new law also introduces “undercover investigations”. Some members queried the fact that there are no undercover investigations for offences such as drug trafficking or organized crime, yet illegal gambling offences would now allow for the introduction of undercover agents.

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Cheong Weng Chon, said the law was specifically designed to provide unique regulations.

“The old Illegal gambling law came into effect in 1996, and it is completely different from the current law, including online gambling,” he said. “We want to combat illegal behavior through this law.”

Cheong Weng added that with the changing of the times, the means in which gambling crimes are committed have become more complicated, and law enforcement officers have therefore been constrained by the law in combating these crimes.

He also mentioned that law enforcement agencies faced some difficulties while investigating the Suncity and Tak Chun cases.

“We hope that under the principle of not violating the law, we can set up some specialized legal means so that the law enforcement departments can have more means to enforce the law and make it more convenient for them to search for evidence,” he said.

In terms of conducting searches at any time of day or night, he added, “There is no time limit on the conduct of illegal gambling, whether it is on the internet or in other entities.

“This is different from drug trafficking. Gambling has its own uniqueness, which makes it necessary for law enforcement.”

RelatedPosts

Winds of change

Melco says working with potential buyers on bidding process for City of Dreams Manila

Fri 9 May 2025 at 06:16
Melco prices US$750 million Senior Notes offering

Melco smashes revenue and profit estimates in 1Q25, gains market share on powerful performance of Macau resorts

Fri 9 May 2025 at 05:36
Galaxy Macau to host 2025 Annual Conference of the FIA – world motorsport’s governing body

Favorable VIP hold pushes Galaxy Entertainment Group’s 1Q25 profit to US$412 million

Thu 8 May 2025 at 14:03
Solutions Showcase: Angel – Tech Minded

Side bets now contribute close to 50% of Macau baccarat revenues

Thu 8 May 2025 at 13:32
Load More
Tags: gamblingIllegal gamblinglawLegislative AssemblyMacauonline gambling
Share5Share1
Pierce Chan

Pierce Chan

With more than five years’ experience working as a journalist in Macau, Pierce is an experienced media operator with strong skills in news writing and editing. He previously worked with Exmoo, first as a reporter covering government, gaming and tourism-related stories, then as a Deputy Assignment Editor helping set the agenda of the day. Pierce is a graduate of the University of Macau.

Current Issue

Editorial – Knife’s edge

Editorial – Knife’s edge

by Andrew W Scott and Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:14

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex journey is at a critical point, with the success or failure of the initiative to be determined...

The changing face of Macau

The changing face of Macau

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:09

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the new, post-COVID Macau where a revenue environment that seems to be...

Born again

Born again

by Pierce Chan
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 14:47

Premiering in September 2010 at City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water was a visionary creation by artistic maestro...

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 13:17

Richard Howarth, Chief Business Officer APAC for global testing laboratory GLI, discusses his career journey and his passion for fast-paced...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

Japan Credit Rating Agency affirms Konami’s A+ rating due to “high earning capacity”

Stability in Australia, North America drives 7.4% revenue growth for Konami’s gaming segment in FY25

by Newsdesk
Fri 9 May 2025 at 06:48

Global gaming supplier Konami reported a 7.4% increase in revenue in its Gaming & Systems segment to JPY42.7 billion in the year ended 31 March 2025, with operating profit up by 16.3% to JPY7.3 billion, according to financial statements published...

MGM’s Hornbuckle bullish on “unique” Macau as China stimulus uncertainty sees gaming stocks dive

MGM’s Bill Hornbuckle extends employment contract through end-2028

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 9 May 2025 at 06:34

MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle has renewed his employment contract with the company through to the end of 2028, after which time he will assume an advisory role to assist with the pre-opening phase of its US$9 billion...

Winds of change

Melco says working with potential buyers on bidding process for City of Dreams Manila

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 9 May 2025 at 06:16

Melco Resorts & Entertainment said Thursday that it is currently in discussions with potential buyers of its stake in Philippines integrated resort City of Dreams Manila and will soon have a shortlist of interested parties that will partake in a...

Melco prices US$750 million Senior Notes offering

Melco smashes revenue and profit estimates in 1Q25, gains market share on powerful performance of Macau resorts

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 9 May 2025 at 05:36

An impressively strong performance in Macau was enough to see Melco Resorts & Entertainment comfortably beat consensus in 1Q25, with the company reporting a 10.8% year-on-year increase in total operating revenues to US$1.23 billion including a 12.2% rise in gaming...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English