Four individuals were detained Monday on suspicion of defrauding two Macau casinos of a total of HK$19 million (approximately US$2.4 million) in gambling credit. The Judiciary Police’s gaming-related crimes division identified the suspects of the gambling credit fraud as three Hong Kong residents in their 60s and one 36-year-old Macau man, according to GGR Asia.
Key Takeaways:
- Four suspects arrested for HK$19 million gambling credit fraud in Macau casinos
- Recent cases expose sophisticated fake chip syndicates and cross-border collusion
- Authorities call for increased vigilance to protect Macau’s gaming industry
How the HK$19 Million Gambling Credit Fraud Unfolded
Authorities said the suspects used a forged electronic bank statement showing a balance of HK$48 million to secure credit worth HK$10 million from one casino. Over several days in October, they obtained non-negotiable gaming chips through table play.
When requested to return the chips, only about HK$1.58 million worth were surrendered, leaving HK$8.4 million unaccounted for. The suspects claimed the missing chips had been passed on to others.
Police indicated the possible involvement of additional individuals beyond those detained and revealed a similar HK$9 million credit fraud at another casino, expanding the scope of the ongoing investigation.
Macau Authorities Tighten Scrutiny on Casino Fraud Schemes
This case follows several recent incidents involving gambling fraud in Macau’s casinos. Authorities recently dismantled a mainland Chinese syndicate that operated a counterfeit chip scheme, defrauding gamblers and currency exchange operators of over HK$1.2 million since July 2024, per Macau Business. The syndicate used sophisticated fake chips and involved multiple suspects, several of whom remain at large.
In related cases, local and mainland Chinese individuals were arrested for collusion with casino dealers and exchanging counterfeit chips, causing losses ranging from HK$1.6 million to over HK$4 million during recent months.
Vong Chi Hou, head of the Judiciary Police’s gaming crimes division, noted the coordinated nature of these frauds, which exploit weaknesses in casinos’ credit approval processes and chip handling procedures, per World Casino News. He stressed the considerable financial risks posed to Macau’s casino operators.
The four suspects in the latest case were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office on Thursday. They may face charges of fraud and document forgery. Investigations into additional accomplices continue, and authorities urge gambling operators to increase vigilance.
