The Legislative Assembly of Macau unanimously passed the new Illegal Gambling Law, marking significant progress in the region's gambling regulation.
The law has been finalized with revisions, introducing stricter measures to combat illegal gambling activities both inside and outside casinos.
The government has issued specific regulations targeting parallel betting and side betting, reflecting the importance placed on curbing these illegal activities.
Online gaming activities remain largely unchanged compared to previous regulations, but the law has been updated to reflect recent industry developments.
One major update is the criminalization of illegal currency exchange for gambling purposes, whether these activities occur inside or outside casinos. This amendment aims to strengthen control over money-related crimes rather than directly targeting casino patrons.
The government has also implemented stricter regulations on loans used for gambling purposes.
Finally, the law also addresses the use of lotteries (including foreign lotteries), with penalties of up to two years in prison.
Despite widespread acceptance of the new law with virtually no opposition, Legislative Assembly member Lin Yongkang expressed concerns about the sale of Hong Kong Mark Six lottery in Macau. He urged the government to clarify its stance on this issue, pointing out potential legal ambiguities.
In response, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Cheong Kin Chong, emphasized that the law targets commercial transactions of lotteries, not casual transactions between individuals.
