Macau’s Judiciary Police have dismantled a cross-border syndicate accused of defrauding two major casinos out of nearly HK$19 million (US$2.4 million) in gambling credit. The four suspects—three from Hong Kong and one from Macau—allegedly falsified bank statements to obtain loans from gaming concessionaires before disappearing with millions in non-negotiable chips.
The case, which unfolded across several casinos in Cotai, has been described as one of the most sophisticated fraud operations targeting Macau’s gaming sector this year. Investigators believe more suspects remain at large, and a manhunt is underway.
Syndicate Used Fake Bank Statements to Secure Credit
According to the Judiciary Police, the group’s ringleader, a 67-year-old Hong Kong resident surnamed Lee, submitted counterfeit banking documents to secure casino credit. The documents included a falsified electronic statement from a Hong Kong financial institution showing an inflated balance of HK$48 million.
This fabricated proof of wealth convinced a gaming concessionaire to grant Lee HK$10 million in rolling chips on October 15. Over the following days, between October 18 and 27, Lee—together with two other Hong Kong associates, a 63-year-old woman surnamed Wong and a 63-year-old man surnamed Or—used the chips at VIP tables before discreetly leaving the casino with the majority of them.
When the casino demanded repayment, Lee returned only HK$1.585 million, leaving a shortfall of over HK$8.4 million. Shortly after the casino raised the alarm, police discovered that the same group had pulled off a similar operation at another venue, obtaining a further HK$9 million in gambling credit through the same deception.
The four suspects were arrested on the evening of October 27 at a Cotai casino after security personnel alerted authorities. Police seized approximately HK$300,000 in cash and several mobile phones believed to be connected to the scam.
Vong Chi Hou, head of the Judiciary Police’s gaming-related crimes division, said the suspects had attempted to secure loans from at least four casinos earlier in October. Two rejected their applications after verifying the submitted documents, but two were defrauded before the falsifications were uncovered.
Vong confirmed that the suspects had divided their roles within the scheme: Lee served as the main organizer, Wong and Or posed as businesspeople to strengthen the credibility of their applications, and the Macau resident, a 36-year-old driver also surnamed Wong, provided logistical support.
“The group used forged electronic bank documents to fabricate creditworthiness and obtained large sums in gambling credit,” said Vong. He added that several accomplices remain at large and may still possess a portion of the stolen chips.
Casino Losses Estimated at Over HK$17 Million
Authorities estimate that the scam resulted in total losses exceeding HK$17.4 million (MOP17.96 million). Two of the casinos issued loans to the group before detecting the fraud, while two others narrowly avoided financial loss after declining credit applications.
As reported by Macau Business, police investigations further revealed that Lee’s personal bank account actually held only a small fraction of the wealth he had claimed. During multiple gambling sessions, he placed small bets—winning around HK$810,000 and losing HK$100,000—but ultimately withdrew millions in chips that were never returned.
The Judiciary Police confirmed that all four detainees face charges including fraud, document forgery, and participation in a criminal group. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office, while efforts continue to track down additional suspects and recover the missing chips.
Police officials commended the cooperation of Cotai’s casino security teams, whose rapid response led to the arrests. The investigation has since widened to trace the flow of the fraudulent chips and identify any accomplices linked to money laundering.
