• 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

Tak Chun boss Levo Chan detained in Macau: police

Jan 30, 2022 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Tak Chun boss Levo Chan detained in Macau: police

Levo Chan Weng Lin, boss of Macau casino junket brand Tak Chun, has been detained on Friday in Macau, announced the city’s Judiciary Police in a press briefing this morning (Sunday, January 30). Tak Chun has been described by investment analysts as one of the largest junket operators in the Macau market pre-pandemic.

The Macau authorities said a 49-year-old suspect surnamed Chan – identified as being a Macau resident and working as a “businessman” – had been detained following an investigation linked to a number of criminal activities, including “illicit gambling activities”, formation of a criminal group and money laundering.

A second “businessman” aged 34 years and surnamed Choi – also a Macau resident – was detained during Friday’s operations, it was said.

The police did not confirm Mr Chan’s identity, but according to several media outlets, the man detained is Tak Chun’s boss.

The police stated that Mr Chan led an alleged criminal group, helped by Mr Choi.

Macau’s casino junket sector has been in the spotlight since the detention in November of Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, and the suspension of operations at his Suncity Group, a junket brand described previously by investment analysts as the largest VIP operator in the city. According to the Macau police, this latest case is linked to Mr Chau’s, but the local authorities did not provide further details.

Chong Kam Leong, a Macau Judiciary Police spokesman, said: “Even though our two operations [dated November and now] were targeted at two different groups, according to our investigation, there is sufficient evidence that shows the two groups together participated in illicit and criminal activities.”

He added: “We targeted our investigation at the very criminal group that the suspects were involved in, not at any specific junket entities.”

Tak Chun’s Mr Chan is also co-chairman and chief executive of gaming and hotel services firm Macau Legend Development Ltd, which runs three casinos in Macau – Landmark, Babylon and Legend Palace – under a so-called services agreement with Macau licensee SJM Holdings Ltd. The Hong Kong-listed company owns a tourism complex called Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, located in NAPE district in Macau peninsula.

Mr Chan and Mr Choi were said to be involved in illicit online betting, according to the police. The duo was also said to be facilitating a form of under-the-table betting for high rollers in Macau, known in the industry as the “multiplier”.

With the multiplier, the bet denominated at the table actually represents a bet made privately between the player and a junket industry associate that can be a multiple many times the ‘official’ one. Macau’s gaming tax, levied at a rate close to 40 percent of the gross, is paid only on the ‘official’ bet.

The police said they had been collecting evidence in relation to the investigation since 2019. They also said Mr Chan and Mr Choi were detained at a hotel in NAPE district on Friday, and both refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Sunday’s press conference by Macau’s Judiciary Police presented evidence collected, including computer hardware and HKD4.10-million (US$526,157) worth of cash, found in the two suspects’ respective homes and workplaces.

According to an investigation by GGRAsia published in early December, several major Macau junket brands besides Suncity Group have been mentioned in investigations since 2020 by public prosecutors in mainland China. That included “Tak Chun”. In a number of cases, individuals named were said to be agents that facilitated the trips of gamblers from the mainland not only to Macau and to branded junket rooms in the city, but also to overseas casino destinations.

(Story updated January 30, 11.59am)


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Singapore police arrest 21 people for illegal gambling
    Singapore police arrest 21 people for...

    Mar 23, 2023  

  • Vietnam’s Hoiana says has several partners to bring biz
    Vietnam’s Hoiana says has several...

    Mar 22, 2023  

More news
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp
    Main-building work at Naga 3 begins...

    Mar 24, 2023  

  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch
    Macau diversification into non-gaming...

    Mar 24, 2023  


Latest News

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Mar 24, 2023  

Piling work for Naga 3, an addition to the NagaWorld gaming complex in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, was at “96 percent completion”, said the promoter’s 2022 annual report, issued on...
Read More
Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Mar 24, 2023  

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR opens

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR

Mar 24, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


April 8, 2028

Completion deadline for 'Marina Bay Sands 2.0', as authorised by Singapore’s authorities



Most Popular

  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • March 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemicMarch 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemic March 23, 2023
  • Contractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE schemeContractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE scheme March 23, 2023
  • LVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 startLVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 start March 24, 2023
  • Universal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada ManilaUniversal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada Manila March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us