Gaming-related crimes in Macau surged 34.5 percent year-on-year to 679 cases in the first half of the year, local media reported.
There was a significant rise in such crimes over the past quarter, The Macau Daily Times reported, citing the Secretary for Security talking to reporters.
Wong Sio Chak said that cases involving unlawful detention and loan sharking increased between March and June. During the first half of this year, a total of 170 unlawful detention cases were recorded, reflecting a 112.5 percent increase year-on-year.
The rise in illegal detentions also drove violent crimes up by 3 percent to 410, while usury cases increased by 39.1 percent to 153.
However, “so far there hasn’t been enough evidence to show the adjustment in the gaming industry has [negatively affected] Macau’s public security,” The Times quoted Wong as saying.
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