The Macau casino concession refreshment process has a new twist to take into account. GGRAsia reports that the Judiciary Police will pay close attention to the potential risks to the city from the gaming industry.

As per a report from the police, the number of casino crimes in 2018 had increased from the previous year. The statement went on to say, “The Judiciary Police will closely follow up the potential impact on public security from changes in the gaming industry.”

It remains unclear how refreshing the concessionaire’s licenses might further affect crime, however, logically, denying the licenses could theoretically reduce crime in the surrounding areas of the casinos.

The report documents 5,014 cases of suspected gaming-related crime in 2018, a 6.4% increase from 4,714 cases in 2017. Any crime committed inside or near a casino qualified for the total. The report goes on to note that crimes directly tied to gambling decreased from 554 cases to 308, largely in thanks to a crackdown on loan-shark activities.