• 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

Macau probes up to US$36mln in missing agent deposits

Mar 31, 2022 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau probes up to US$36mln in missing agent deposits

Macau’s Judiciary police said in a Wednesday briefing that as much as HKD280 million (US$35.8 million) in cash might have been lost between an aggregate of more than 200 deposit holders, after a sub-agent working with the Macau gambling junket system allegedly failed to return money when requested by some depositors.

Neither the junket or junkets with which the sub-agent was allegedly working – nor the casino venue or venues where the relevant VIP operations were being conducted – were identified by the police.

A specific case being investigated by the Judiciary Police involves reports filed respectively by 18 people, claiming to have lost in aggregate, HKD27 million, reported local media.

The sub-agent is believed to have been involved in arranging gaming business in Macau, from October 2019 to September last year. Sub-agents – known in the Macau regulatory system as “collaborators” – traditionally have connections in either mainland China or Hong Kong, and act as go-between for junkets that have traditionally hosted VIPs in Macau casino concessionaire premises.

The police briefing did not clarify if the sub-agent was an individual, or an entity. Police said so far two people in Macau – both Macau ID holders – had been detained; but one person – referred to as a “ringleader” – had already left Macau.

The two suspects were held prior to Wednesday’s media briefing. Evidence related to the case was gathered from two casinos in Cotai, and one office in the ZAPE district of Macau peninsula.

The two suspects had declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Judiciary Police said. Both were being investigated over alleged scams, and involvement in a criminal group.

Two out of the 18 people that filed complaints to the police said they had had ‘earned’ 1-percent interest per month on their respective deposit, for three consecutive months. The briefing mentioned that the respective complaints were filed starting from September last year.

Allegations of junket representatives or sub-agents either failing to return depositor money – or actually disappearing from Macau with such funds – have been made before in Macau.

A well-publicised 2015 incident involved the alleged theft of large amounts of money lodged with Dore Entertainment Co Ltd – at the time an operator of Macau gambling junkets – by an ex-cage manager from a VIP room at the Wynn Macau casino hotel on the city’s peninsula.

Dore Entertainment never publicly disclosed how much the employee allegedly stole. An investment-institution report suggested an amount ranging from HKD200 million to HKD2.0 billion was involved in the case.

At the time, a number of people came forward claiming they had invested with Dore Entertainment on the promise of higher returns than those offered by regulated banks, but had lost their money because of the alleged incident.

Following a ruling in November last year by Macau’s Court of Final Appeal, Macau casino operators might be liable to refund deposits lodged with junkets operating on their premises.

The Macau government is currently working with the city’s Legislative Assembly, on a new regulatory framework that will include tighter rules on liability for the financial conduct and accountability of collaborators and of junkets, the latter known in the Macau regulatory system as gaming promoters.


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

    May 09, 2023  

  • Macau mid-price mass tables busiest on day 4 of May hols
    Macau mid-price mass tables busiest on...

    May 02, 2023  

More news
  • Konami taps market-tried slots to refresh Asia op offer
    Konami taps market-tried slots to...

    Jun 08, 2023  

  • L&W links with Shift4 to expand cashless gaming offering
    L&W links with Shift4 to expand...

    Jun 08, 2023  


Latest News

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 responding to the Asia-Pacific casino industry’s fresh engagement with consumers post- Covid-19, by introducing certain slot machine product...
Read More
L&W links with Shift4 to expand cashless gaming offering

L&W links with Shift4 to expand cashless gaming...

Jun 08, 2023  

G2E Asia 2023: Singapore

  • 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’ve said we want to grow EBITDA ... to US$1.4 billion in 2025. And we have a really high level of conviction about getting there”

Matt Wilson

Chief executive of casino equipment provider Light & Wonder



Most Popular

  • Macau GGR in June hit by seasonal slowdown: JP MorganMacau GGR in June hit by seasonal slowdown: JP Morgan June 5, 2023
  • China Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBSChina Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBS June 7, 2023
  • Queen’s Wharf Brisbane opening delayed to April 2024Queen’s Wharf Brisbane opening delayed to April 2024 June 6, 2023

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