Macau Casino Suspicious Transaction Reports Increase 8.7% in First Half of 2026

Suspicious transaction reports (STRs) submitted by Macau's casino industry increased by 8.7 percent during the first half of 2026, contributing to a broader rise in the total number of reports received by the Financial Intelligence Office of the Unitary Police Service.

According to official data released on July 7, the office received 2,018 STRs from Games of Fortune Operators—the official classification for casino operators—between January and June 2026. This compares with 1,856 reports filed during the same period in 2025.

The gaming industry continued to account for the overwhelming majority of suspicious transaction reports, representing 73.3 percent of all submissions in the first six months of 2026. Although the sector's share edged down slightly from 73.8 percent in the corresponding period last year, the actual number of reports filed by casino operators increased.

Across all reporting entities, the Financial Intelligence Office received a total of 2,753 suspicious transaction reports during the January-to-June period, marking a 9.5 percent increase from the 2,515 reports recorded in the first half of 2025. The authority attributed the rise primarily to activity within the gaming sector, stating that the increase was “mainly due to the increase in the number of STRs reported by the gaming sector.”

Outside the casino industry, financial institutions and insurance companies submitted 526 suspicious transaction reports, accounting for 19.1 percent of the overall total. Meanwhile, other institutions filed 209 reports, representing the remaining 7.6 percent.

During the first six months of 2026, the Financial Intelligence Office also referred 54 suspicious transaction reports to the Public Prosecutions Office for further action.

By fLEXI tEAM