MACAU SAR, CHINA Law and Practice Contributed by: Pedro Cortés, Lektou
2. Jurisdictional Overview 2.1 Online Gambling Interactive Gaming
tion and Coordination Bureau to maintain compliance with local laws and regulations. For operators located outside Macau – and without prejudice to what is now criminalised under Law No 20/2024 and that has been mentioned – there have been reports of international co-operation in offering online gaming services to the Macau market. How- ever, it remains unclear if Macau residents betting on foreign offshore platforms on a passive basis is con- sidered illegal, as Macau’s laws lack a defined basis for action against foreign operators in cross-border betting scenarios. 2.2 Land-Based Gambling Macau maintains a six-concession framework for land-based casino gaming, each concession grant- ed in December 2022 for a ten-year term ending 31 December 2032. The Macau Gaming Law requires that all gaming oper- ations be conducted in venues owned by the con- cessionaires, thereby initiating a three-year transition period ending on 31 December 2025 for properties historically operated as satellite casinos. Under Macau’s legal framework, three types of land- based gaming are permitted. Games of Chance This kind of game is defined under the Macau Gaming Law (specifically Article 2.1.1) as “those in which the result is contingent because it depends exclusively or mainly on the luck of the player”. Casino games of chance and their rules are authorised by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, published in the Macau SAR official gazette, based on recommendations from the DICJ, either on its own initiative or at the request of concessionaires. Macau’s authorised casino games include a variety of traditional and regional options, such as baccarat, blackjack, craps, fan tan, poker variations (eg, Texas hold ‘em), and mahjong, among others. Games can only be conducted within the casi- nos or gaming areas of the concessionaires. Pari-Mutuel Pari-mutuel (animal racing – horse and greyhound only) is defined as a “system of betting on animal
In Macau, the term “interactive gaming” (online gam- ing) is defined within the regulatory framework to limit the scope of online and telecommunications-based gambling activities. In general terms, and with the sole exception of sports lotteries (football and basketball), interactive (online) gaming is not permitted. Macau enforces a strict prohibition on online gaming, covering online casi- nos, poker, and all forms of interactive gaming. Dur- ing discussions surrounding Law No 20/2024, dated 28 October 2024 (Law to Combat Illegal Gambling Crimes), the government reaffirmed its opposition on legalising online gaming, citing significant social and regulatory concerns. Officials stated that regulating online gaming is not part of Macau’s legislative agen- da. Consequently, operators are not allowed to offer online games, and individuals found facilitating such activities face severe penalties. Furthermore, Law No 20/2024 criminalises the unau- thorised operation of online gaming, covering games of chance and pari-mutuel betting. Under this law, individuals who operate, promote, or organise online gaming without appropriate legal authorisation – regardless of if the systems, devices, or servers are located in Macau – face prison sentences ranging from one to eight years, with negligent involvement in such activities also subject to legal penalties. In summary, online gaming and interactive betting remain prohibited in Macau, except where expressly authorised by law, aside from the following. Sports Betting Status: permitted, with restrictions Sports betting in Macau is limited primarily to sports lotteries, specifically for football and basketball, under exclusive concessions. While popular in many inter- national jurisdictions, general sports betting – such as those covering a broader range of sports or events – is tightly regulated and not readily permitted without explicit government concessions. These operators are subject to regulatory oversight by the Gaming Inspec-
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