Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China and the largest casino gaming market in the world. It is regulated by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) under Law No. 16/2001 — substantially amended by Law 7/2022 — together with Law No. 10/2012 on casino entry and exclusion. Crucially for content teams, Macau is land-based casino only: there is no legal online gambling. This page covers the regulator, the legal framework, the helpline, exclusion, and the responsible-gambling requirements. To see how Playbook content tests against these rules interactively, use the live Coverage Map.
Macau is land-based casino only — there is no legal online gambling. The minimum age is 21+ (higher than most of the world). A person can self-exclude, or be excluded by a third party, from all or specific casinos for up to two years. And responsible-gambling messaging is wired into the physical environment: a 24-hour Gambling Counselling Hotline displayed on ATM screensavers at every casino, plus required messages in promotional pamphlets and on responsible-gambling kiosks on the casino floor.
Who regulates: the DICJ and the concession regime
The DICJ licenses, monitors, and enforces casino gaming in Macau. Casino operations run under a concession regime capped at six concessionaires, reshaped by the 2022 amendments to the Gaming Law.
Law 7/2022 (effective 23 June 2022) overhauled the framework: it added a statutory duty on concessionaires to prevent and mitigate gambling harm (Article 42-A), tightened controls on advertising and promotion, and set the stage for the current concession contracts, awarded to six operators for a ten-year term running 2023–2033. The DICJ administers responsible-gambling standards on top of the law. A later statute, Law 20/2024, strengthened penalties against illegal gambling, including illegal online gambling.
Legal requirements and permitted products
Two facts define Macau for content: the floor is 21 for everything, and the market is land-based casino only. There is no legal online casino or online sports betting under the concession regime.
| Requirement / product | Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age to enter or play | 21+ — to enter, play, or work in a casino | Law 10/2012; Law 7/2022 |
| Land-based casino | Legal — operated by six licensed concessionaires | Law 16/2001 (amended by Law 7/2022) |
| Online gambling | Not legal — concessions cover land-based only | Law 16/2001; Law 20/2024 |
| Online sports betting | Not offered under the concession regime | Law 16/2001 |
| Lottery / pari-mutuel | Separate licensed operators (not casino concessions) | Macau SAR law |
The governing law is Law No. 16/2001, as amended by Law 7/2022, with casino entry and exclusion under Law No. 10/2012. Because the market is land-based, any Playbook deployment here is in-venue — there is no licensed online channel. For the player-facing math behind casino games, the Game Guides cover slots and baccarat (the dominant table game in Macau) in plain language.
Key requirements at a glance
These are the responsible-gambling requirements the DICJ sets for concessionaires. Each links to the DICJ responsible-gambling source.
| Requirement | Reference | Verticals |
|---|---|---|
| Concessionaire duty to mitigate harm Concessionaires must adopt measures to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of gambling. | Article 42-A, Law 16/2001 (amended by Law 7/2022) | Land-based casino |
| Minimum age 21 A person must be 21 or older to enter, play in, or work in a casino. | Law 10/2012 | Land-based casino |
| Self-exclusion & third-party exclusion A person can self-exclude — or be excluded by a third party — from all or specific casinos, for a maximum of 2 years. | Law 10/2012 (amended by Law 17/2018) | Land-based casino |
| 24-hour counselling hotline on ATM screensavers The 24-hour Gambling Counselling Hotline must be displayed on the ATM screensavers at all casinos. | DICJ responsible-gambling standards | Land-based casino |
| RG messages on the floor Responsible-gambling messages must appear in promotional pamphlets and on the responsible-gambling kiosks located on casino floors. | DICJ responsible-gambling standards | Land-based casino |
| Advertising & promotion controls Advertising and promotional activities must comply with DICJ guidelines, with restrictions on targeting vulnerable populations. | Law 7/2022 (amending Law 16/2001) | Land-based casino |
The helpline and how it must appear
Macau's line is the 24-hour Gambling Counselling Hotline on 2832 3998, commissioned by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and operated by the S.K.H. Macau Social Service Coordination Office. Under the DICJ's responsible-gambling standards, this number must be displayed on the ATM screensavers at all casinos — a distinctive placement that puts the helpline exactly where cash decisions are made.
24-hour counselling hotline
2832 3998 — free and confidential, around the clock, commissioned by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS).
Where it appears
On the ATM screensavers at every casino, plus responsible-gambling kiosks and promotional pamphlets on the floor.
RG kiosks
Responsible-gambling kiosks on casino floors are supported by the Social Welfare Bureau, the DICJ, and the University of Macau.
Both displays below meet the requirement. The on-brand version frames the line as open to anyone affected and confirms it is free and always available.
Bare compliance
Gambling Counselling Hotline: 2832 3998.
The Playbook way
Free, confidential support — 24 hours a day, for anyone affected by gambling. Call the Gambling Counselling Hotline on 2832 3998.
Messaging: responsible-gambling on the floor
Macau's approach is obligation-based — concessionaires must surface responsible-gambling information in specific places, but the DICJ does not prescribe a single verbatim sentence the way Australia does for online wagering. The requirements are environmental: messages in promotional pamphlets, messages on responsible-gambling kiosks, and the hotline on ATM screensavers.
Because the placements are fixed but the phrasing is not, Playbook content can express its full voice in the pamphlet and kiosk copy — provided the hotline and responsible-gambling information are present and the messaging avoids targeting vulnerable players. See Voice & Tone for the register that fits these in-venue moments.
Advertising restrictions
Under Law 7/2022, casino advertising and promotional activities must comply with DICJ guidelines, with explicit restrictions on targeting vulnerable populations. Because there is no legal online gambling, there is no online wagering advertising regime to navigate — the rules apply to land-based casino promotion.
In practice: keep promotional content away from anyone who appears underage or vulnerable, carry responsible-gambling messaging and the hotline in promotional pamphlets, and follow the DICJ's guidelines on the form and placement of casino advertising. Confirm the current guidelines with the DICJ before deployment.
Self-exclusion and third-party exclusion
Macau's exclusion system is unusual in two ways: it allows third-party exclusion (a family member can apply), and it can target all or specific casinos.
Self-exclusion
Law 10/2012 (amended by Law 17/2018)
A person can apply to exclude themselves from all casinos, or from specific named casinos, for a defined period up to a maximum of two years.
Third-party exclusion
Law 10/2012 (amended by Law 17/2018)
The same scheme allows third-party exclusion — a route for family members to seek an exclusion — again from all or specific casinos, for up to two years.
In everyday copy, say "take a break" or "exclude yourself." Reserve "self-exclusion" and "third-party exclusion" for formal contexts — enrolment, support referrals, and explanatory material. When a player or family member asks, explain the two-year cap and that exclusion can cover all casinos or just specific ones.
Player-protection tools
Macau's player-protection model is built on the concessionaire duty to mitigate harm, the exclusion scheme, and the on-floor responsible-gambling infrastructure:
- Duty to mitigate harm — concessionaires must adopt measures to prevent and reduce gambling harm (Article 42-A).
- 21+ entry — verified at entry; under-age entry carries penalties for both the player and the operator.
- Self- and third-party exclusion — all or specific casinos, up to two years.
- 24-hour hotline — 2832 3998, displayed on ATM screensavers at every casino.
- RG kiosks and pamphlets — responsible-gambling messaging on the casino floor.
- Staff and venue measures — concessionaires implement responsible-gambling programs under DICJ standards (see Playbook Academy for staff certification).
Because the market is land-based, there is no online account toolkit (deposit limits, activity statements, online self-exclusion) of the kind seen in jurisdictions with licensed online wagering — the protections are venue-based. The 21+ requirement applies to all player-facing content.
"You must be 21+ to enter or play here." (age notice) · "Need to talk? The Gambling Counselling Hotline is free and open 24 hours: 2832 3998." (helpline) · "You can exclude yourself — or a family member can apply — from any or all casinos, for up to two years." (exclusion).
This page is a summary for content and marketing teams — a map of Macau's regulatory landscape, not legal advice. The market is land-based casino only, the 2022 gaming-law amendments reshaped the concession regime, and concessionaires remain responsible for their own compliance. Confirm current responsible-gambling standards and advertising guidelines with the DICJ and qualified counsel before deployment. To test Playbook content against these rules interactively, use the live Coverage Map.