Macau police arrested two mainland Chinese men in separate cases over two days for allegedly livestreaming baccarat and placing bets for remote gamblers, extending a recent series of proxy-betting cases detected as police and casino security teams step up scrutiny of the practice.
The Judiciary Police seized HK$10,000 ($1,280) in cash and three casino cash vouchers worth a combined HK$114,000 ($14,540), together with modified clothing, mobile phones and Bluetooth equipment, according to the reports. The two suspects were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office on suspicion of illegally operating online games of chance or online mutual betting.
Both men were intercepted by security staff at an unnamed casino in Macau’s NAPE district after their behavior drew attention. Proxy betting involves livestreaming a casino game and placing wagers according to instructions from gamblers located elsewhere.
In the first case, reported at about 6:30 p.m. on July 9th, investigators found that the suspect had hidden a phone inside a chest pocket fitted with transparent mesh, allowing him to film a baccarat gaming machine. He allegedly received betting instructions through Bluetooth audio equipment.
The man told police he had been paid HK$300 ($38) for each successful trip and had carried more than HKD10,000 in betting funds into Macau. He had allegedly conducted the activity at least twice since June, earning no less than HK$600 ($77).
A second suspect was intercepted at about 4 a.m. on July 10th using the same method. He allegedly admitted conducting two livestreaming sessions on July 8th and July 10th and about five sessions since June for three remote gamblers.
Police said the second suspect was paid HK$500 ($64) per hour. His proxy bets totaled HK$150,000 ($19,130), while his earnings were at least HK$5,000 ($638).
The arrests follow several recent cases involving concealed phones and modified clothing used to broadcast casino games. Police have increased monitoring, while casino security teams have also been identifying suspicious behavior and referring suspected proxy-betting activity for investigation.
