Zona de Azar China – Suspicious Transaction Reports from Macau Gaming Operators up 125% YoY

China.- July 10th 2023 www.zonadeazar.com The number of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) issued by Macau’s gaming operators increased by 125% year-on-year to 1,392 in the six months to 30 June 2023, up from 618 in the prior year period, according to data from the Financial Intelligence Office.

There was also a 33.9% increase in STRs in the June 2023 quarter when compared to the March 2023 quarter, reflecting the continued increase in visitor arrivals and business volumes since the easing of border restrictions in January. The June quarter saw 797 STRs compared with 595 in Q1.

The rise in gaming industry STRs resulted in Macau-wide STRs – which also takes into account Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies, and “Other Institutions” – climb by 713 or 59.9% to 1,904 for the first six months of the year. That’s despite Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies reporting a 13.1% drop to 373 and other institutions a 3.5% decline to 139 STRs.

The Financial Intelligence Office said STRs from gaming operators represented 73.1% of all STRs in 1H23, up from 51.9% a year earlier.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com