Macau denies promoting online gambling sites, sets up new cybercrime unit

Macau officials want it made clear that they’re not in the business of promoting online gambling sites via text messages.

Over the weekend, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced that it was alarmed by reports of mobile phone users receiving text messages promoting online gambling sites. The messages claimed to be from the MGTO and were based around the theme of Experience Macau.

The MGTO does promote an Experience Macau mobile app but its scope is limited to information regarding Macau tourist sites, attractions, accommodation and trip planning. The MGTO insists that it has nothing to do with the messages promoting online gambling sites and it has referred the case to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the Judiciary Police and the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation.

This isn’t the first time a Macau government agency has felt compelled to issue such clarifications. In June, the DICJ warned consumers that it had never issued any online gambling licenses and thus any site attempting to claim it was acting with the DICJ’s blessing was a sham.