A criminal syndicate from mainland China has been secretly broadcasting live betting on a hidden cell phone in the VIP room of a casino in Macau since August 2024, accepting telephone bets and conducting “betting under the table”, making more than HK$6 million (US$770,000) in profit according to the Judiciary Police (PJ).
Authorities have revealed that they found the criminal syndicate to have committed at least 11 crimes in the VIP room of the casino in Cotai between August last year and February this year. The syndicate sent its members to the VIP room to broadcast live on a cell phone hidden in the breast pocket of a suit jacket and used a miniature headset to communicate with the syndicate.
The PJ received a tip-off in September and began an investigation. On Wednesday, when the syndicate sent three more people to the VIP hall, police took action to arrest the trio, seizing HK$344,000 (US$44,000) in chips, HK$600,000 (US$77,000) in cash, micro-earphones and cell phones suspected of being used for live broadcasting.
After investigation, the police found that the syndicate was accepting bets from gamblers via telephone betting, with most of the participants being mainland residents. In addition to proxy betting, police pointed out that the criminal syndicate also accepted “betting under the table”.
Since August last year, the syndicate has committed a total of 11 crimes, accepting telephone bets amounting to around HK$790,000 (US$101,450), while the amount of “betting under the table” amounted to around HK$5.36 million (US$688,000).
Police said the syndicate had committed the crime of “illegal operation of gaming” and sent the three people to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“Betting under the table” is a crime in Macau and is punishable by one to eight years’ imprisonment.
