Gaming regulator warns of illegal gaming websites

Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Co-ordination Bureau (DICJ) has issued a statement alerting the public to illegal gaming websites claiming to have been licensed by the local government; the ads can often be seen in the city’s taxis and on the facades of residential buildings. In a statement released last week, the gaming regulator stated that the Macau Government has never issued any interactive gaming licences, thus the operation of online interactive gambling websites in the city is considered illegal. The regulator explained that the statement was made in the context of having received a rising number of public queries about illegal gaming websites. Currently, some taxis here still post ads promoting illegal gaming websites inside the vehicles but it is a practice that has faced reinforced government scrutiny and orders for removals, said Macau Taxi Driver Mutual Association chairman Tony Kuok Leong Son. “Since a few months ago, following police action against the posting of banners promoting the illegal gambling websites on the fronts of residences near the Border Gate these kinds of ads have [appeared] in the city’s taxi interiors,” Mr. Leong said. The police action Mr. Leong referred to was when Judiciary Police launched a crackdown on illegal gambling website advertisements in November last year; arrests were made for the posting of the banners on the facades of residential buildings near the Border Gate as well as the sending of junk mobile phone messages promoting these websites. The publicising of illegal gambling websites also prompted the government to issue a set of guidelines earlier this month which seek to clarify what defines an illegal advertisement, deputy director of Macau Economic Services Tai Kin Yip explained earlier this month. According to the guidelines, advertisements featuring gaming corporations or VIP gaming promoters sponsoring or supporting charity events, sports events or entertainment events (such as concerts) are legal. But the government does not approve of ads featuring corporations promoting the gaming business, providing information on gaming techniques or displaying gaming facilities such as gaming chips, gaming tables or casinos.