A financial watchdog said that suspicious transactions reports (STRs) in Macau have skyrocketed in 2016.

Macau’s Financial Intelligence Office said that it received a total of 2,321 STRs last year, up 28.4% from 2015’s total. The breakdown of the STRs are as follows: 1,546 STRs from the gaming sector, 696 STRs from financial institutions and insurance companies, and 79 STRs from ‘other institutions.’ 

Last month, Macau legislators approved amendments to laws involving the prevention and suppression of money laundering and terrorism crimes. Also, Macau set its threshold for reporting ‘large’ transactions to MOP 500k (US $62k).

The roll out of ATMs with facial recognition technology is an integral part of the policy that Macau issued last month. The policy stated that Chinese tourists who are using bank cards issued on the mainland would need to subject themselves to facial scans before local ATMs would dispense any cash.

Macau should fortify its anti-money laundering safeguards to deter hooligans from doing their crimes.

In this episode of The Industry Eye, Ed Pownall talks about WSOP, UKGC, CMA and social gaming (again).

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has lifted the suspension order it issued against the Resorts World Manila (RWM) casino after it complied with PAGCOR’s required security and safety improvements.

Jez San, the man behind online poker site PKR.com, is rolling out blockchain-based casino Funfair which he described as a “borderless, frictionless” and “completely browser-based” technology.

Colombia’s Coljuegos gaming regulatory body has issued the country’s first official online gambling license to Wplay.co brand.

Binion's Horseshoe Casino is believed to be the pioneer of big-money wagering. It is also where the World Series of Poker was born.

Advance-deposit wagering: a form of gambling on the outcome of horse races in which the bettor must fund his or her account before being allowed to place bets.

Those who will attend the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference, which will happen on July 11 to 14, are in for a treat as the Costa Rica-based iGaming company Breakout Gaming will launch its newest brand, Breakout Casino.

Tennis fans, gather round! The 2017 Wimbledon Championships will happen on July 3 until July 16. Odds makers are putting their money on third seed Roger Federer to win his eighth Wimbledon title at +200. He is followed by defending champion Andy Murray as the +350 second choice.