The number of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) issued by Macau’s gaming operators increased by 30.2% year-on-year to 3,041 in the first six months of 2024, up from 2,335 in the prior year period, according to data from the Financial Intelligence Office.
However, while STRs issued were up on a year-on-year basis, their proliferation slowed quarter-on-quarter with 860 STRs in the three months to 30 September 2024, down from 1,125 in 1Q24 and 1,056 in Q2.
STRs issued by Macau’s gaming operators formed the vast majority of the total 4,118 STRs recorded between January and September, a figure that was also up 29.6% year-on-year and reflecting the continued increase in visitor arrivals and business volumes since the easing of border restrictions in January 2023.
The total included 843 STRs from Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies, up from 617 in the same period last year, and 234 from “Other Institutions”, slightly up from 226.
STRs issued by Macau’s gaming operators comprised 73.8% of all STRs compared with 73.5% in the same period last year.