Macau Casinos File 3,603 STRs in 2025

Macau’s gaming sector continued to dominate suspicious transaction reporting in 2025, even as overall filings declined year on year. Casinos submitted 3,603 Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) during the year, representing 73.1 percent of all reports recorded across the Special Administrative Region.

According to figures released by the Financial Intelligence Unit (GIF) of the Unitary Police Service, total STRs fell 6.1 percent to 4,925, down from 5,245 in 2024. Authorities said the decline was largely driven by fewer reports from gaming operators, which remain the single largest source of suspicious activity alerts in Macau.

Financial institutions recorded 1,008 STRs in 2025, compared with 1,097 the previous year, reflecting a similar downward trend. Other reporting entities submitted 314 reports, marginally higher than the 311 filed in 2024. While filings dipped slightly across most categories, the gaming industry continued to account for the overwhelming majority of disclosures.

Out of the total STRs received, GIF referred 118 cases to the Public Prosecutions Office for further assessment. The agency did not disclose how many of those referrals originated from casino operators, meaning a sector-level breakdown of escalated cases was not available. The referrals represented roughly 2.4 percent of all reports submitted, highlighting GIF’s role as a filtering body before matters reach prosecutors.

Casinos Remain Central to Financial Monitoring
The 3,603 STRs lodged by gaming operators reinforce the sector’s central position in Macau’s financial surveillance framework. The volume of cash transactions and the international profile of casino customers continue to present heightened exposure to money laundering and other financial risks.

The modest year-on-year reduction contrasts with previous periods, when rising visitor numbers and gaming revenues translated into higher reporting volumes. GIF noted that the decline in gaming-related reports was the main factor behind the overall decrease, while other sectors showed relative stability.

Cases Progressing to Prosecutors
The 118 STRs forwarded to prosecutors are those considered to warrant closer scrutiny and possible criminal investigation. Although sector attribution was not disclosed, the dominance of gaming-related reports suggests casinos are likely represented among the referred cases.

The relatively small proportion of escalated reports indicates that most STRs function as precautionary alerts, enabling oversight and intelligence gathering, while only a limited number advance to formal investigative stages.