The Asian gambling behemoth Galaxy Entertainment has found their brand associated with several online casino scams perpetrated in Macau, considered to be the foremost gambling location in the world.

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In these scams, the culprits claim to be connected to Galaxy Entertainment and entice punters to join their gambling or betting websites under the pretense that the sites are legitimate.

Galaxy Entertainment recently published a statement on their website that categorically denied their association with a number of online gambling and betting sites.

The company also asked individuals with knowledge of the perpetrators to contact local authorities.

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With their statement, Galaxy Entertainment hopes to decrease the success of the scammers and decrease any negative publicity associated with their brand due to them. Galaxy Entertainment has affirmed that they will not be responsible for any losses or damages suffered by punters fooled by fake websites with their brand.

Scams Proliferating in Macau

While the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the live gaming industry in Macau, many unscrupulous characters have tried to take advantage by enticing punters with fake online gaming sites, ostensibly linked to big time Macau brands such as Galaxy Entertainment.

The Macau scams emerged just as the Chinese government announced they will be cracking down on illegal gaming outfits.

Gambling is outlawed across China, except for the special administrative region of Macau. While the underground Chinese gambling industry has long been an open secret, China has made moves in recent weeks that showed they plan on taking illegal gambling more seriously, launching a number of programs explicitly focused on curbing the gambling black market.

Some industry analysts believe that the Chinese crackdown could help explain why scammers in Macau are using names of established gaming brands—such as Galaxy Entertainment to boost their credibility with wary punters craving gambling action.

Since many Chinese punters are wary of running afoul of the government’s renewed drive against illegal gambling, black market operators may feel that affixing the name of a legitimate brand on their website could allay those fears.

Chinese Crackdown, COVID-19 Eyed as Catalysts for Scams

Macau’s status as the world’s gambling capital has made it one of the hotspots for scams targeting punters flush with cash.

While Macau has seen its fair share of scams over the years, industry observers believe that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Chinese illegal gambling crackdown may serve as catalysts for even more scams.

China is currently offering generous financial rewards for whistleblowers that will help to flush out illegal gambling operations.

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Carolyn is our legislation expert, with a background in law she is able to cover the current state of gambling around the world