Hit by China’s anti-graft campaign, Macau sees rise in reported crimes and falling revenues
Loan-sharking cases more than double, with more than one illegal detention a day recorded in the first half of 2016
Loan-sharking cases and unlawful detentions surged in Macau over the first six months of the year, as the city scrambles to diversify its gambling industry and new projects continue to be built in the world’s biggest gaming hub.
Cases of loan-sharking more than doubled in the first half of 2016. There were 233 such crimes, compared to 153 in the same period last year – an increase of 52.3 per cent year-on-year, police data showed.
According to official statistics, 170 victims were from the mainland and 32 were Hong Kong citizens. Overall, Macau recorded 814 cases of suspected gaming-related crimes in the first half of 2016 – a jump of 13.5 per cent. The Public Prosecutions Office saw a total of 924 suspects.
In 2013, before the Chinese government’s anti-graft campaign hit Macau, there was a total of 944 gaming-related cases in the full year, showing the big impact of the mainland crackdown.
The campaign has deterred wealthy mainland Chinese gamblers and junket operators whose main job was to attract high-rollers to Macau and lend them money.