OVERVIEW OF MACAU'S LEGISLATION ON GAMBLING: 1961–2023

Abstract

The article explores the evolution of Macau's gambling laws and regulations from 1961 to the present day. The independent gambling laws and regulations of Macau began in the 1960s, initially with casino gaming, and then expanded to other types of gambling such as horse racing betting, greyhound racing betting, soccer betting, and lotteries over the next three decades. During this period, the Portuguese colonial government ruled Macau. After Macau's handover to China in 1999, the gambling laws and regulations have continuously grown into a legal system that comprises more than a hundred documents and covers all types of gaming in Macau. The article aims to explore the historical origin and development of the primary rules, especially their unique features, to provide a better understanding of Macau's gaming legal system.