• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 18 September 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

Macau’s Legislative Assembly votes new Illegal Gambling bill into law

Pierce Chan by Pierce Chan
Thu 17 Oct 2024 at 04:33
Macau’s Legislative Assembly votes new Illegal Gambling bill into law
25
SHARES
631
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau’s new “Illegal Gambling Law” was finally voted on in the Macau Legislative Assembly on Wednesday and passed with almost no opposition. The law will come into effect the day after it is officially announced.

This is the latest of a number of new gaming-related laws to have been passed over the past two years, including the general gaming law, the law on junkets and the law on the legal regime of gaming credit.

After being initially voted on in December last year, the Illegal Gambling law passed through eight meetings of the Second Standing Committee before it was finally tabled for a final vote in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

There was little opposition to the bill during the vote, with only a few members voicing their opinions. One of them, Ron Lam U Tou, questioned one of the clauses – “Illegal lotteries” under Article 8 of the bill – which restricts the sale of Mark Six lotteries and imposes a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment for their illegal sale.

Lam stated that the sale of Mark Six Lottery tickets does not have a significant impact on society, and that buying lottery tickets has been a habit in Macau for many years.

“There are many officials who would laugh and say that some of the things they do are ‘harder to win than the Mark Six Lottery’, which show that Mark Six has been a traditional habit for many people in Macau,” he said.

“The new law is now more stringent and I don’t think it is appropriate to raise the penalty for selling Mark Six lottery tickets to two years imprisonment.”

In response, Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon pointed out that the sale of lottery tickets is an act of lucky betting and should be regulated.

“The resale of Mark Six lottery tickets by some small merchants in Macau is now regulated by law. This is now an offence.

“This behaviour needs to be regulated because the sale of lottery tickets requires a licence from the SAR government and it affects young people.

“Unlike casinos, lotteries offer great convenience and the public can use legal channels to buy Mark Six lottery tickets.”

The Illegal Gambling Law also adds a number of new criminal law provisions, including a strict ban on what is commonly known as “betting under the table”, with offenders liable to a maximum of eight years imprisonment.

The government’s stance is that past instances of “betting under the table” – almost certainly a reference to the recent Suncity Group and Tak Chun Group trials – have seriously undermined the development of the gaming industry and there is a need to improve the relevant legal regime to explicitly prohibit such behaviour.

In addition, the law enhances the ability of criminal investigation officers to collect evidence against illegal gambling behaviour by adding new powers around “night-time evidence collection” and “undercover investigations”.

Recently added provisions to the bill include the criminalization of “money exchange gangs”. Anyone who operates an illegal currency exchange for the purpose of gambling will from now have committed an offence and be liable to a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.

RelatedPosts

Macau GGR hits MOP$19.8 billion in August, up 6% month-on-month

Government figures indicate Macau’s gaming industry recorded US$17.9 billion surplus in 2024

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 18:04
Melco’s Tokyo office raided by Public Prosecutor as Akimoto scandal deepens

Melco prices new notes offering at US$500 million

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 06:16
The changing face of Macau

Melco to launch private hospital at Macau’s Studio City as part of 10-year non-gaming concession commitment

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 05:06
Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation

Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation

Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 22:58
Load More
Tags: Illegal gamblinglawLegislative AssemblyMacau
Share10Share2
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 – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 17:03

Leading Philippines eGames provider DigiPlus Interactive Corp has inked a deal with domestic insurance company Philippine First Insurance Co. Inc  to introduce what it describes as the Philippines’ first-ever surety bond program for online gaming players. Taking effect immediately, the...

10 Years Ago – Reimagining Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cabinet approves budget proposal to increase betting levy, double casino entry for locals

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:27

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a proposal in the country’s 2025 budget that will see the betting levy increased and casino entry fee for locals doubled. According to a report by local business media outlet Economy Next, Cabinet Spokesman...

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:08

CDC Gaming, the premier source of news, commentary and analysis for the gaming industry in the Americas and sister company to Inside Asian Gaming, has announced a revamped, reimagined and refreshed Day Zero Party ahead of this year’s Global Gaming...

Wynn says UAE development contribution to total around US$900 million as Thailand opportunity looms large

Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:01

Wynn Al Marjan Island is looking to open with smart gaming tables installed across all or most of its gaming areas and payment options that include cryptocurrencies, the company has revealed. David Patent, Executive Vice President, Gaming Operations at Wynn’s...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
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

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English