Croupier and guard arrested over US$6 mln Macau casino heist

HONG KONG: 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 ( US$ 6 million) in gaming chips were stolen from a VIP room.

Semi-autonomous Macau is the only part of China where casino gambling is legal and is a favourite haunt of mainland high rollers.

The heist happened early Tuesday morning at mega casino Wynn Macau, owned by United States gaming tycoon Steve Wynn.

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.

Surnamed Lee, the croupier had bagged the chips when the VIP room he was working in was largely empty at 7.00am, 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 yesterday.

Lee then stuffed the casino chips into a bag and drove away on a motorcycle. He later met the security guard, surnamed Ho, at a park in neighbouring Taipa with the chips, the spokeswoman added.

Lee admitted guilt but refused to reveal the stolen chips’ whereabouts, while Ho denied committing any crime. — AFP