• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

4 Suncity depts worked on illicit bets: Macau police

Nov 16, 2022 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


4 Suncity depts worked on illicit bets: Macau police

A total of four departments at former casino junket business Suncity Group were involved in illicit bet activities, and they could only have been coordinated to do so by the head of the organisation, said a police senior investigator giving evidence in a Macau court on Tuesday.

The allegation of Lau Weng Keun, from Macau’s Judiciary Police was heard at the Court of First Instance. There, Suncity Group founder Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, and 20 other defendants face charges of illegal gaming, criminal association, fraud, and money laundering. Mr Chau is also charged with leading a criminal group.

Mr Lau’s evidence directly contradicted earlier claims by Mr Chau that neither he nor his organisation were involved in facilitating illegal gambling, including an under-the-table form of wager known as the “multiplier”.

But Mr Lau said the police believed that Suncity Group’s marketing development department, IT department, the ‘operation’ department, and accounting department, all took part in illicit gambling activities.

“The ability to deploy them [the departments], and each having a division of labour, could only be from Mr Chau,” said the police investigator, referring to the Suncity Group boss’s alleged role.

“The case showed that they had a common criminal goal, and had certain awareness of counter-investigation,” he added, in what was understood to be a reference to steps that would be needed to try to conceal their acts from the authorities.

Police scrutiny of Suncity Group financial records and mobile device chat records of defendants, indicated under-the-table bets took place in “229 VIP rooms and casino venues” that had existed in Macau over the course of a number of years.

But Leong Hon Man, a lawyer defending Mr Chau, suggested to the court during Tuesday’s afternoon session, that 200 of the venues were not rooms hosted by Suncity Group, but by other junket operators and in some cases even involved so-called “direct VIP play” venues hosted directly by casino operators.

Investigator Mr Lau said soon after his officers took on the case following the November 2021 arrest of Mr Chau and others, many of the junket VIP rooms in Macau had been closed. By the time of the police investigation, they were also unable to verify whether the alleged under-table bets had really happened at some direct VIP play venues.

At a press briefing on November 28 last year, soon after Mr Chau’s detention in Macau, the city’s Judiciary Police had mentioned they had built their case against Mr Chau and others, via police work dating back to 2019.

At the Tuesday court session, defence lawyer Mr Leong quizzed the police investigator about allegations Suncity Group had promoted so-called proxy gambling to gamblers in Macau, for live games hosted in the Philippines.

Investigator Mr Lau said from evidence collected from Suncity Group’s computer servers, it could be established that gamblers were casting bets on play hosted at real “tables”, i.e., with live dealers, but the police could not confirm the location of the “venues”.

Mr Leong, speaking for Mr Chau, asked whether if a Macau junket promoted proxy games hosted in overseas locations such as the Philippines – where proxy gambling might be a licensed and legitimate activity – that would constitute a crime in Macau.

The trial judge, Lou Ieng Ha, said that would be a matter for the court to decide.

The judge has previously mentioned that closing arguments in the trial are likely to start on Monday (November 21).


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau govt expects bet-credit bill in effect Jan 2024
    Macau govt expects bet-credit bill in...

    May 09, 2023  

  • Tak Chun’s Levo Chan sentenced to 14 years in prison
    Tak Chun’s Levo Chan sentenced to...

    Apr 21, 2023  

More news
  • No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt
    No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate...

    Jun 09, 2023  

  • IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst
    IGT casino, digital biz listing has...

    Jun 09, 2023  


Latest News

No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt

No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt

Jun 09, 2023  

None of Macau’s six gaming concessionaires have so far applied for a form of “exemption” from the full 40-percent tax rate on casino gross gaming revenue (GGR), as potentially applicable...
Read More
IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst

IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst

Jun 09, 2023  

G2E Asia 2023: Singapore

  • Jackpot tech focus on tables not just slots: Paltronics
    Jackpot tech focus on tables not just slots: Paltronics

    Jun 09, 2023  

    Commercial opportunities for utilisation of...
  • Konami taps market-tried slots to refresh Asia op offer
    Konami taps market-tried slots to refresh Asia op offer

    Jun 08, 2023  

    Gaming content and equipment maker Konami says it is...
  • L&W building game content across 3 pillars: Ken Jolly
    L&W building game content across 3 pillars: Ken Jolly

    Jun 07, 2023  

    Casino gaming content and hardware provider Light &...
  • ETGs rapid growth segment in Asia: Interblock Michael Hu
    ETGs rapid growth segment in Asia: Interblock Michael Hu

    Jun 06, 2023  

    Electronic table games (ETGs) supplier Interblock dd is...
  • GLI offering RNG test tools, cybersecurity demand growing
    GLI offering RNG test tools, cybersecurity demand growing

    Jun 05, 2023  

    Random number generator (RNG) testing tools are among the...
  • Alfastreet’s new Verso cabinet heading to Asian markets
    Alfastreet’s new Verso cabinet heading to Asian markets

    Jun 01, 2023  

    Alfastreet, a manufacturer of electronic gaming machines,...
  • Sega Sammy Creation growing land-based, eyes online
    Sega Sammy Creation growing land-based, eyes online

    Jun 01, 2023  

    Casino equipment maker Sega Sammy Creation Inc is tweaking...
  • iGaming growing in Asia, ops tackling challenges: Uplatform
    iGaming growing in Asia, ops tackling challenges: Uplatform

    Jun 01, 2023  

    The iGaming segment in Asia “has grown rapidly” since...
  • ‘See before you play’ slot marketing tool, say tech suppliers
    ‘See before you play’ slot marketing tool, say tech...

    May 31, 2023  

    Showing slot machine players – via animations on the...
  • Macau stocks tied to China outlook: Bloomberg analyst
    Macau stocks tied to China outlook: Bloomberg analyst

    May 31, 2023  

    Macau stocks in likelihood “have been punished too much...
  • Investors still eye possible fresh IR locations in Japan: scholar
    Investors still eye possible fresh IR locations in Japan:...

    May 31, 2023  

    There are foreign companies still interested in investing...
  • Thai casino law possible in 2024, IR in 2030: govt adviser
    Thai casino law possible in 2024, IR in 2030: govt adviser

    May 31, 2023  

    Thailand could pass the necessary enabling legislation for...
  • China still ‘critical’ to Asian markets: G2E Asia panel
    China still ‘critical’ to Asian markets: G2E Asia panel

    May 30, 2023  

    China will remain a key market for Asian gaming...
  • Much interest in state casinos sale, says Pagcor boss Tengco
    Much interest in state casinos sale, says Pagcor boss

    May 30, 2023  

    Alejandro Tengco (pictured in a file photo), chairman and...
  • Gaming industry in for a very exciting period: Bill Miller
    Gaming industry in for a very exciting period: Bill Miller

    May 30, 2023  

    There are “plenty of reasons” for the global gaming...
  • IGT flags route to high-performing games for Asia
    IGT flags route to high-performing games for Asia

    May 30, 2023  

    Gaming equipment provider International Game Technology Plc...
  • G2E Singapore trade show, conference begins today
    G2E Singapore trade show, conference begins today

    May 30, 2023  

    The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2023 Special Edition:...
  • Novomatic’s Black Edition II cabinets at G2E in Singapore
    Novomatic’s Black Edition II cabinets at G2E in Singapore

    May 29, 2023  

    Austria-based gaming equipment maker and operator Novomatic...
  • Uplatform to show latest iGaming products at G2E Singapore
    Uplatform to show latest iGaming products at G2E Singapore

    May 25, 2023  

    Sports betting and online casino operating platform...
  • L&W ambition to be No1 in Asia well on its way: SVP gaming
    L&W ambition to be No1 in Asia well on its way: SVP...

    May 24, 2023  

    The business performance in Asia of gaming content and...
  • G2E Singapore expecting 6k visitors, 100+ exhibitors
    G2E Singapore expecting 6k visitors, 100+ exhibitors

    May 18, 2023  

    The organisers of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2023...
  • ‘Dragon Unleashed’ slot link by L&W at G2E in Singapore
    ‘Dragon Unleashed’ slot link by L&W at G2E in...

    May 17, 2023  

    Gaming content and equipment supplier Light & Wonder...
  • Sega Sammy Creation new multi-ETG at G2E in Singapore
    Sega Sammy Creation new multi-ETG at G2E in Singapore

    May 16, 2023  

    Casino equipment maker Sega Sammy Creation Inc is to...
  • Aristocrat at G2E Asia in Singapore previews Year of Dragon
    Aristocrat at G2E Asia in Singapore previews Year of Dragon

    May 09, 2023  

    Casino slot machine and digital gaming content provider...
  • IGT ‘Prosperity’ link in Asia show debut G2E in Singapore
    IGT ‘Prosperity’ link in Asia show debut G2E in...

    May 05, 2023  

    The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia event in Singapore is the...
  • Thai parliament adviser on casinos attending G2E Singapore
    Thai parliament adviser on casinos attending G2E Singapore

    May 04, 2023  

    An adviser to a Thailand parliamentary committee mulling...

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”We believe the intrinsic value of IGT’s market-leading businesses and diversified cash flow profile is not currently reflected in our stock price and the timing is right to assess opportunities that may enhance value for IGT’s shareholders”

Marco Sala

Executive chair of casino equipment supplier IGT



Most Popular

  • China Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBSChina Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBS June 7, 2023
  • No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govtNo Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt June 9, 2023
  • Suntrust to get up to US$446mln loan from local bankSuntrust to get up to US$446mln loan from local bank June 9, 2023

Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us