On Monday, Macau took decisive steps towards fortifying its legal framework in an effort to curb gambling crimes within its borders. The legislative gears have been turning since December, when the proposition was first tabled, but now the details have come under public scrutiny as Macau sets the stage for tougher punitive measures against gambling delinquency.
The proposed legislation calls for a significant empowerment of the region’s Public Security Police Force, endowing it with enhanced authorities to clamp down on illicit gambling activities. It comes alongside provisions for steeper fines and more stringent incarceration periods for violators, signaling a new era of legal rigor in China’s esteemed gambling enclave.
Dubbed “Law to Combat Illegal Gambling Crimes,” this legal overhaul aims to contemporize Macau’s aging gaming regulations, particularly taking aim at Law No.8/96/M, which has long governed illicit betting in the region. Under the new scheme, providing illegal gambling loans—a common yet clandestine practice in the vibrant casino halls—could land perpetuators in prison for up to five years, with recipients of such loans staring down similar fates.
The legal ramifications intensify for what the bill terms “aggravated incidents” related to loan recovery, threatening to extend imprisonment to eight years. Coco Leong Weng, at the helm of the Macau Legal Affairs Bureau, highlighted the leap in potential prison sentences, marking a dramatic increase from the current cap of three years.
Macau’s uncompromising stance mirrors instructions from Beijing, where there have been heightened calls for a clampdown on the misuse of the gambling sector. China’s President Xi Jinping has articulated concerns on national security fronts, citing the voluminous capital leaks to Macau from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, a separate front in the legislative effort seeks to obliterate the burgeoning threat of online gambling within Macau. The bill prescribes incarceration of up to half a year for those convicted of engaging in electronic betting, accompanied by fines that could reach upwards of US$1,240. Proxy betting, a system where one places bets on behalf of another, not physically present, is especially targeted.
To discourage repeated violations, nonresident offenders could face re-entry bans spanning five to ten years, a measure designed to streamline judicial procedures and minimize legal wrangling over gaming offenses.
Even traditional pastimes aren’t exempt from scrutiny; casual mahjong games that involve stakes could soon invoke penalties. Residents found indulgent in such gambling could face monetary repercussions, with the scales tipping based on the amount of money on the line and prior offenses.
Law enforcement may soon be carrying out nocturnal searches in residences and businesses suspected of facilitating illegal gambling — a move justified by the predominant timing of such crimes.
Amidst these austere measures, there is a glimmer of clemency for those aiding law enforcement in exposing gambling-related criminal activities, with the bill proffering immunity to cooperators.
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