Case sparked by 2015 theft
Macau’s Court of Second Instance has ruled that casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd. is jointly liable for the refund of a chip deposit worth HKD6 million (US$766,440) made to junket operator Dore Entertainment Co Ltd. The ruling, reached in October, overturns an April decision by the Court of First Instance, which said the liability belonged solely to Dore.
The new decision makes Wynn Macau jointly liable for repaying the deposit plus interest at the regulated bank rate.
“It is reasonable and logical to demand from the concessionaires the duty of monitoring those junket activities,” as well as there to be jointly liability for the outcomes of those activities, wrote the judges.
The case is related to alleged multimillion-dollar theft from the junket operator at Wynn Macau. In that case, according to Dore, former cage manager Mimi Chow “allegedly used her power to conduct unauthorized actions without the company’s knowledge.” At the time a number of casino patrons claimed they lost money in the deal.
In an email to GGRAsia, Wynn declined to “comment on litigation matters.” The company did not say if it intends to appeal.
Ambrose So, chief executive of Macau market rival SJM Holdings, said the ruling could make casino concessionaires “more cautious” in their dealings with junket operators. “It is too soon to judge to say categorically whether the junket operation’s responsibility should be passed onto the concessionaire,” So commented. “It depends on the detail of the arrangement.”
