A criminal syndicate is suspected of recruiting casino employees in Macau to manipulate poker cards, causing specific sequences and outcomes in games. During these games, accomplices increased their bets to win chips, resulting in a total loss of HK$4.54 million ($582,000) at the Macau casino.
The police arrested eight suspects aged 33 to 42, all local residents.
The affected casino is located in Cotai, where five suspects held positions such as gaming table managers, directors, and dealers. They are believed to have been recruited by the criminal syndicate.
The remaining three are believed to be core members of the syndicate, responsible for planning the activities.
Last Thursday (23rd), the police received a report from the casino operator, who suspected employees of tampering with poker cards while on duty, colluding with others, and later using them in fraudulent activities at the gaming tables.
After an investigation, the police apprehended eight individuals across Macau and various districts last Saturday (May 25th), some of whom refused to cooperate.
According to the police, the alleged criminal syndicate had committed crimes twice in late March and early May. Each participating casino employee allegedly could have profited between HK$170,000 ($21,770) and HK$500,000 ($64,040) per incident. The police believe that several individuals are still at large.
