On December 11, former Tak Chun Group head Levo Chan told Macau’s Court of First Instance that neither he nor his company had ever taken part in multiplier betting in the city’s casinos.
Chan and eight co-defendants have been charged with illegal gambling, criminal association, fraud and money laundering.
As reported by GGRAsia, prosecutors say Tak Chun took some HKD1.50 billion (US$190 million) in illegal wagers over nearly six years. As a result, the Macau government lost about HKD575.21 million in taxes. In addition, five of the city’s Big 6 casino concessionaires have also claimed damages amounting to HKD134.7 million. Only Melco Resorts and Entertainment did not file a claim for compensation.
Former Tak Chun employees testified that they were aware of training materials on under-the-table bets and proxy bets, but Chan disputed those claims. “I am not aware of such activities in Tak Chun,” he told the court. “I also want to emphasize that the company and I had not given any instructions to employees about under-table betting.”
The junket shut down in December 2021, shortly after the arrest of Alvin Chau, head of another now-defunct junket operator, the Suncity Group. Like Chan, Chau was charged with illegal gambling, running a criminal syndicate, fraud and money laundering. The verdict in his case is expected on December 18.
At his hearing, Chan denied the suggestion that he ceased operations for fear that he would be arrested like Chau. “The demise of Tak Chun was due to the fact that all the six gaming operators had notified us they would cease collaboration with us,” Chan said.
The prosecution also accused Chan of ordering the destruction of Tak Chun files. Chan replied, “I was worried that some of the staffers might sell the precious data of our clients to other parties.”
While denying his own involvement in illegal bets, Chan acknowledged that such bets were “commonplace” in Macau casinos.
“The entire industry knows that some junket agents and representatives would engage in under-table betting with gamblers privately,” he said. “But even officers from DICJ (the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau) had never found any of these betting activities in casinos, so it’s even more difficult for my employees to find out.”
Judge Ip Sio Fan then asked, “I don’t understand how come you are aware of the existence of under-table betting in Macau but you are not aware of these activities taking place in the VIP rooms of Tak Chun.”
Chan answered, “No one knows for sure whether the gamblers really engage in these bets.” He added that he was “rarely” involved in the day-to-day operation of the junket.
The trial continues this week.
