Recent statistics from the Judiciary Police (PJ) reveal a significant surge in gambling-related crimes in Macau during the first five months of 2024, a 75.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. <\/p>\n
According to local media reports, there were 579 recorded cases, with fraud accounting for a substantial portion at 130 cases, 52 more cases than last year. About two-thirds of these cases are reportedly linked to money exchange gangs involved in illegal foreign exchange activities within the gambling hub. <\/p>\n
During the same period, PJ identified 1,924 members of these money exchange gangs, with 927 individuals subsequently banned from Macau casinos by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. <\/p>\n
Instances of loan sharking have also seen a sharp rise, jumping from 18 cases in early 2023 to 104 cases this year. This increase highlights concerns about the resurgence of such activities as Macau emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n
Other crimes, such as theft and failure to report found objects, have also seen an uptick, particularly in bustling gambling districts frequented by tourists and locals alike. <\/p>\n
Law enforcement officials in Macau reported an 18 percent year-on-year increase in overall crime during the first quarter of 2024, primarily attributed to the rise in scams and fraud cases. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, provisional data from the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) indicates that the gambling destination received 1.1 million international visitors in the first half of the year. <\/p>\n
Talking to public broadcasting services TDMs Ou Mun Tin Toi, MGTO Deputy Director Ricky Hoi said Macau is on track to surpass 2 million foreign visitors in 2024. The predicted numbers are significantly higher than last year's 1.4 million, though still short of the 3 million visitors recorded in 2019. <\/p>\n
Hoi also mentioned that MGTO is working to broaden its international visitor base through partnerships, such as organizing one-day visits to Macau for up to 500 passengers from cruise ships docking in Hong Kong. <\/p>\n
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Macau sees 75% jump in gambling-related crimes during first five months of 2024 - Yogonet International<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Recent statistics from the Judiciary Police (PJ) reveal a significant surge in gambling-related crimes in Macau during the first five months of 2024, a 75.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. According to local media reports, there were 579 recorded cases, with fraud accounting for a substantial portion at 130 cases, 52 more cases than last year. Continue reading