Macau's gambling crimes rose 31% year-on-year in 2024 but remain 32% below 2019 levels. Discover key trends in casino-related offenses, loan sharking, and fraud amid the city's tourism recovery.
Gambling-related crimes in Macau rose by 31% in 2024 compared to 2023, but numbers remain well below what they were before COVID-19 hit Asia’s largest casino hub.
Crime Numbers Still Lower Than 2019
Police recorded 1,456 gambling-related crimes in 2024, a sharp rise from last year. This is 32 % lower than the 2019 total, according to government-released data.
“With the further increase in tourists to Macau and the recovery of the tourism and gambling industries, the number of factors destabilizing social security increased in 2024,” said Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, as reported and translated by Macau Business.
Most Common Gambling Crimes
The most common gambling-related offenses in 2024 were:
Theft (22.9%)
Loan sharking (17.3%)
Illegal money exchange (6.1%)
The high number of loan sharking cases shows that illegal lending to gamblers remains a serious problem despite efforts to stop it.
New Rules Haven't Sparked Crime Wave
Despite major changes to Macau's gaming laws in recent years, police report "no unusual organized crime activity" linked to these new rules.
"The regulatory changes appear to be working as planned," noted an official quoted by Macau Business. "We haven't seen criminal groups trying to exploit the new system."
Overall Crime in Macau
Total crime in Macau reached 14,298 cases in 2024, up 6% from last year and just 0.8% higher than 2019 levels.
Fraud and online crime saw the biggest increases, matching global trends where digital scams are becoming more common.
"While gambling crimes require our attention, we're also focusing more resources on fighting digital crimes," the police representative said.
Security experts think gambling-related crime could keep increasing as Macau's casino industry bounces back, but better security and stricter regulations should help keep organized crime under control.
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