Criminal groups continue to target Macau casinos for money laundering

• Efforts to curb money laundering in Macau, China’s Special Administrative Region, changed the gambling sector
• One expert reveals that while the industry in Macau has changed, criminal groups continue to use casinos for laundering proceeds from unlawful activities
• Amid scrutiny, criminal syndicates continue to operate in Southeast Asia

Across Asia, many countries continue to fight money laundering and often cooperate to take down large criminal syndicates.

In Macau, the once profitable junket operators, tied to criminal organizations and money laundering, were dismantled, but many bad actors continue to use casinos to launder ill-gained proceeds.

Money laundering in Macau still happens, but it is less visible

An expert recently highlighted that while some criminal organizations have transitioned to the digital vertical, laundering criminal proceeds through online gambling and crypto, others still prefer casinos in Macau.

Macau dismantled its junket operator network amid enhanced efforts by China against international crime, including money laundering and other unlawful activities.

Since the takedown of junkets, a number of people suspected of large-scale money laundering syndicates received sentences.

Notably, in 2021, Alvin Chau, the ex-boss of the SAR’s largest junket operator, Suncity Group, received a sentence of 18 years in prison.

But according to one expert, the takedown of junket operators and the transition of criminal groups to the online sector made money laundering in Macau less visible.

According to Martin Pubrick, an expert in organized crime and corruption and former member of the Hong Kong Royal Police, who was interviewed by Plataforma Media, confirmed that Macau maintains a central position as a hub targeted by criminal organizations.

"Money changers, pawnshops and credit card transfers absorbed this demand, making money laundering in Macau less centralized and less visible. Yet Macau remains a key node for laundering," Pubrick warned.

Recent news from the region reaffirms the expert’s opinion that Macau maintains a central position and is often targeted by criminal groups.

Only recently, a massive illegal gambling and money laundering syndicate valued at $1bn in Taiwan was taken down.

An investigation into the unlawful activities determined that the criminal syndicate used "money mules" to launder money from illegal gambling at casinos in Macau.

While some criminal organizations stay focused on Macau, others have transferred to other countries in the region, such as the Philippines, Cambodia, South Korea and Myanmar.

Still, the crackdown on cross-border criminal groups in the region continues.

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