Chinese officials are preparing a major crackdown on the gambling casinos of Macau.
From a quiet Portuguese colony, Macau has transformed itself into the world’s most lucrative gambling market with revenues counted in the billions.
Along with that has come a reputation for organised crime and vice.
But China’s Ministry of Public Security is tackling money laundering and financial crimes as part of its war on corruption. Its “Operation Fox Hunt” is an international search for corrupt officials who have taken their pilfered money and fled abroad (ed: surely not Golden Visa candidates).
The announcement came as president Xi Jinping prepared to attend Macau’s 15th anniversary celebrations of its return to Chinese control in 1999.
Following its return, casino operations developed quickly, aided by Las Vegas investors.
Macau has been so successful that last year gambling revenues there rocketed to £27.65 billion – seven times more than in Las Vegas.
But beyond the glamour and glitz is a world of people trafficking and prostitution, money laundering and corruption.
Macau has been trying to turn itself into a family resort, with the aid star attractions such as football star David Beckham and the Rolling Stones. The quest was reinforced when Beijing last month warned Macau to end its reliance on gambling.
Beijing has also seen to it that thousands of CCTV cameras have been installed so that authorities can see who is up to what.
"As long as there is a table or a gaming machine, there is a camera. They can see any camera, inside 35 casinos – and anyone," said Professor Davis Fong, director of the University of Macau's Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming.
