Judiciary Police in Macao recently apprehended a man, referred to by his surname Zhang, for using specially modified shirts to facilitate illegal betting on baccarat tables for gamblers in Mainland China. According to reports from Macao Daily News, the suspect had various electronic devices sewn into his clothing to conduct the illegal activity.
During the operation, police confiscated casino chips, Hong Kong dollar banknotes, a smartwatch, Velcro tape, fabric straps, assorted pieces of clothing, electronic cables, and four mobile phones. A police spokesperson stated, "Zhang began offering proxy betting services for baccarat players in mid-May."
This arrest is part of a broader initiative targeting casino-related crime in Macao. Authorities have recently detained multiple individuals involved in selling counterfeit chips, circulating fake banknotes, and offering illegal currency exchange services within the casinos. Most of these suspects, along with the victims, reportedly come from Mainland China.
Zhang was arrested at a casino table on June 29 at 10:30 AM during a regular patrol in the Central District. Observations from police and casino personnel indicated that Zhang's behavior was atypical for a regular gambler. Investigators discovered a mobile phone attached to his shirt's underside, along with discreetly placed cameras that had tiny holes in his clothing.
These devices allowed Zhang to livestream the baccarat table to gamblers in Mainland China, who communicated with him through a Bluetooth earpiece using a specific messaging app. This setup enabled Zhang to place bets as directed by the gamblers, who compensated him with cash amounting to 'tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars' for his services.
During questioning, Zhang admitted to charging HKD 1,000, or approximately $128, per hour and also made small commissions from exchanging gambling chips. He acknowledged participating in at least eight illegal betting sessions and indicated he had made over $2,550 from this scheme. At the time of his arrest, police found him in possession of more than $5,000 in cash and an equivalent amount in casino chips.
In addition to the items found on Zhang, authorities reported seizing three more sets of modified clothing, two mobile phones, and special charging cables from his hotel room in Cotai. Zhang now faces charges for "illegally operating online gambling or online mutual gambling," and has been detained while the case is forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
On the same day, police arrested several other individuals in casinos located in the New Port and Cotai districts. Officers seized over $28,000 from these suspects, who were found holding Hong Kong dollars, Macanese pataca, and Chinese yuan. Authorities noted that these individuals had been conducting illegal currency exchanges for Mainland Chinese gamblers, and some had been operating in Macao since at least January.
