Macau-based casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd is warning the public about fraudulent websites exploiting the company’s brands.
“It has come to our attention that our hotels and/or resort properties’ names, marks, photo images and customer services hotlines have been exploited by illegal and unauthorised online gaming and betting websites with the purpose of misleading or defrauding members of the public,” the company said in a notice on Monday.
Galaxy Entertainment, founded by Hong Kong tycoon Lui Che Woo, had made a similar warning in August last year.
In Monday’s notice, the casino operator said that all of the group’s properties “have no affiliation with any online gambling and betting site nor have we authorised any website, company or person of any origin to solicit, carry out or promote any form of online gambling and betting activities for and on behalf of the group”.
Galaxy Entertainment’s portfolio includes the Galaxy Macau, StarWorld Macau and Broadway Macau.
The company added it could take legal action against those infringing on its corporate identity and exploiting the use of its brands without authorisation.
“Online gambling in Macau is illegal,” the firm said, adding that it won’t be “liable for any losses, damages and/or any other claims in connection with illegal online gambling activities”.
The company urged people suspecting a website to be fraudulent to contact the police.
It is not the first time a Macau-based casino operator has faced similar problems. SJM Holdings Ltd in 2013 issued a similar notice.
Las Vegas Sands Corp, the parent of Macau-based Sands China Ltd, earlier this year secured an injunction against dozens of websites that it said were infringing its trademarks. According to court papers cited by local media, some of the websites also displayed an image of the Las Vegas Sands’ Macau property.
A judge in the United States ordered the websites to be shut down to prevent Las Vegas Sands from suffering “irreparable injury to its valuable trademarks”.
