Judiciary Police in Macao have reported the arrest of a man, identified only by his surname Zhang, who allegedly facilitated illegal betting for gamblers in Mainland China by using specially modified shirts. These garments were equipped with electronic devices, enabling him to place bets at baccarat tables in local casinos, as detailed in a report by the Macao Daily News.
Authorities confiscated various items during the arrest, including casino chips, Hong Kong dollar banknotes, a smartwatch, Velcro tape, fabric straps, multiple clothing items, electronics cables, and four mobile phones.
According to police, Zhang commenced his proxy betting services for baccarat players around mid-May. His apprehension aligns with a broader initiative by law enforcement to address casino-related crime in Macao, which has seen several arrests connected to counterfeit chips, fake banknotes, and illegal currency exchange operations.
The police noted that most suspects arrested in this scheme, including Zhang, are from Mainland China, as are most victims of these crimes.
On June 29, police caught Zhang in the act at a casino in the Central District when officers noticed he was behaving differently from other players. At the time of his apprehension around 10:30 AM, officers discovered a mobile phone attached to the underside of his shirt, along with small cameras hidden in his clothing with lenses just visible through tiny holes.
Investigators revealed that Zhang utilized the cameras to livestream the baccarat table’s action to bettors in Mainland China, who communicated with him through a Bluetooth earpiece using a messaging app. This setup allowed him to place wagers as per their instructions, with gamblers reportedly paying him tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, typically on an hourly basis.
During questioning, Zhang confessed that he charged HKD 1,000, equivalent to approximately $128, per hour and had conducted at least eight gambling sessions, earning over $2,550. At the time of his arrest, he held more than $5,000 in cash and an equal amount in casino chips.
Police also found additional sets of modified clothing and more mobile phones in Zhang’s hotel room located in Cotai. He has been charged with illegally operating online gambling or online mutual gambling and is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings through the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In related enforcement actions on the same day, several other individuals were taken into custody at casinos in the New Port and Cotai districts, with police seizing over $28,000 in various currencies, including Hong Kong dollars, Macanese pataca, and Chinese yuan. These suspects had been conducting illegal currency exchanges since at least January and had accrued significant profits from their activities.
