By Chris Williamson-
Police in the world’s biggest gambling hub Macau have arrested a croupier and a security guard over a massive casino heist where almost HK$48 million ($6 million) in gaming chips were stolen from a VIP room.
The theft has heightened security concerns in the world’s biggest gambling hub.
The heist occurred on Tuesday at the mega Wynn Macau (WYNMF), owned by American gaming tycoon, Steve Wynn. The missing amount is said to be $6m, equivalent to a relatively small but significant lottery jackpot price
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Police told reporters the two men — arrested Thursday — were related to each other and were Macanese residents, aged 49 and 70.
Local media TDM reported that the croupier said he had large gambling debts and that the guard was his uncle.
The croupier had bagged the chips when the VIP room he was working in was largely empty at 7:00 am, with no gamblers and only one other dealer present.
“(He) shouted at his female colleague, ordering her to stay quiet and lie on the gaming table. Then he returned to his assigned gaming table and took out HK$47,895,000 worth of chips”, a police spokeswoman said Friday.
Lee then stuffed the casino chips into a bag and drove away on a motorcycle. He later met the security guard at a park in neighboring Taipa with the chips, the spokeswoman added.
Lee has admitted guilt for the stolen chips, but has refused to reveal the stolen chips’ whereabouts. His accomplice, Ho has denied committing any crime.The chips cannot be translated into cash unless the thieves bring them into the casino, a move they will be apprehensive to make now the alarm has been raised.
Macau has a reputation as a money-laundering centre for illicit cashflows out of China and police have been trying hard to clamp down on such crimes.
Casino heists and theft are rare, but occasionally happen. A Hong Kong police officer was accused of stealing HK$800,000 worth of chips from Macau’s glitzy Cotai Strip in September last year.