The Macao Gaming Supervisory Bureau (DICJ) has released the first video in a series of public service announcements explaining how to keep gambling legal and regulated.
The first iteration, titled “Pay attention to holding a lottery!” warns that holding lucky draw-style games, such as lotteries or raffles, could violate the law if done incorrectly.
The DICJ explained that: “Before a commercial lottery is held, you must apply according to the law.
“Any commercial lucky draw or similar event held in Macau, whether organised by a natural person or a legal person, must notify the DICJ in advance at least 10 days before the event and obtain permission.
“Failure to do so may constitute an administrative violation and may result in fines.”
The 1:38-minute-long video was shared on social media, along with an infographic explaining how to apply for formal applications for the games.
The DICJ also stipulated the fines individuals could face if they ran unregulated lucky draw games.
Conducting a lucky draw game without the proper administrative permits from the DICJ could result in fines up to MOP 200,000 ($24,839.52).
Meanwhile, running a game without the correct rules can result in fines up to MOP 100,000.
Channelization remains a significant challenge for many countries in Asia and Europe, making Macau's approach particularly interesting.
Rather than simply posting the legal information on the website, the DICJ is making the effort to distribute it across different social media channels in different forms, with the hope that it reaches as many people as possible.
This is a similar approach to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which recently released an interactive game to engage the public in learning about illegal casino sites.
The 'Spot The Black Market' quiz shows players how to identify a black market website, as well as statistics on how they affect the UK economy.
Lotteries and raffles in Macau are managed under Decree No.47/98/M
