Macau authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal gambling after discovering a series of underground betting operations inside local casinos. Over the course of just more than a week, investigators found three separate instances where individuals were thought to have set up remote betting using covert recording devices.
Two Men Arrested in Macau Over Alleged Remote Casino Betting Scheme
Two men from mainland China were detained in separate operations carried out in the early hours of July 5. The arrests came after a similar incident was reported days before, pointing to a pattern of such activity emerging at different casino venues, according to the Macau Daily.
In both of the recent cases, the suspects were believed to have secretly filmed live gaming sessions while wearing specially altered clothing. They placed mobile phones allegedly hidden in their clothing to record table activity and send it to people outside Macau. The suspects used small earpieces to relay instructions back to them so that third parties could place bets in real time.
Officers confronted the first of the two men, aged 39, at a Cotai casino after staff noticed suspicious behavior, including repeated adjustments to his clothing. The inspection by officials at the scene revealed modifications to hide recording devices. He is believed to have placed HKD 8,000 ($1,020) worth of bets after receiving instructions through an audio device, investigators said. He denied any involvement in proxy betting, saying he was merely testing equipment.
Macau Probes Possible Links between Latest Proxy Betting Cases
A second suspect, aged 37, was arrested soon after at another casino on the Macau peninsula. Officials said he refused to cooperate and wiped data from his devices, making it difficult to determine the scope of his activities or any financial profits he may have gained. However, evidence collected at the scene included a large quantity of gaming chips, electronic devices, and similarly modified clothing.
In the two operations, police seized chips and vouchers valued at more than HKD 97,000 ($12,369), and a number of phones and audio accessories. The methods used in all recent cases appear to be nearly identical, but authorities say there is no verified link between the suspects at this point. However, the possibility of coordinated activity has not been dismissed.
Both men have been handed over to prosecutors for further action on charges related to the illegal operation of online gambling services. The two cases are being investigated to determine if they may be connected to a wider network, authorities said.
The incidents are part of a broader crackdown on illegal gambling-related activities in Macau. Concerns over illegal activity associated with the gaming industry remain, and earlier this year law enforcement agencies uncovered an illegal currency exchange operation at a casino retail outlet.