Fresh raid uncovers more illegal UnionPay transactions near Cotai casinos

More UnionPay terminals conducting illegal transactions were uncovered in Macau on Wednesday, according to Union Gaming Securities Asia Limited.

Quoting local media reports, the industry analyst group said police discovered a retailer in Taipa, near the Cotai casinos) “illegally using mainland UnionPay terminals instead of overseas terminals.” The retailer, which was identified as a pawnshop, transacted a total of MOP280 million (US$35 million) over the past year.

The retailer reportedly saved an estimated MOP900,000 (US$112,500) by using the mainland devices instead of the overseas devices, Union Gaming said.

“Recall that Macau police have conducted many such UnionPay raids over the last few years and in all cases, the raids have focused on the use of portable mainland UnionPay terminals to spoof that the transaction is occurring on mainland soil rather than internationally,” Union Gaming analyst Grant Govertsen said in a note.