Macau introduces new ATM rules

MACAU: Macau’s government has stepped up measures to curb money laundering in the world’s largest casino hub.

Holders of China UnionPay Co cards issued by banks in China must show mainland identification cards and have their identities verified through a facial recognition system for cash withdrawal at automated teller machines (ATMs), according to a government statement on Sunday.

The technology would be eventually applied to all ATMs, focusing on ones in casinos, according to the statement.

“The government spares no effort to implement anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism rules,” it said.

The move is Macau’s latest effort to strengthen anti-money laundering rules in the territory, the only place in China where gambling is legal.

The ATM rules follow a ban last year that prohibits proxy betting by telephone aimed at staunching bets from gamblers in China.

The ATM rules, which didn’t come with a timeline for rollout, were not expected to curb demand significantly, said JPMorgan Chase & Co analyst DS Kim.

It was common to see people using multiple cards to withdraw cash from Macau ATMs, with some possibly using other peoples’ accounts or cards, Kim wrote.

Still, there were other channels that players and junket operators