{"id":167063,"date":"2021-03-12T03:39:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T11:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=167063"},"modified":"2021-03-12T11:22:01","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T19:22:01","slug":"high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese VIP Gambler Sues SkyCity Casino, Alleged Triad Junket Over Missing Millions"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Chinese high roller is suing SkyCity<\/a> Adelaide and two junket operators. The suit alleges the misappropriation of some A$4.84 million (US$3.75 million) in casino winnings.<\/p>\n

\"skycity\"
Junket operator and gambler Xiongming Xie attends the opening of a Shaolin Kung Fu center in Sydney. The plaintiff accuses him of being a violent criminal. (Image: Sing Tao Daily<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Millionaire Linong Ma, a resident of both Hong Kong and Shanxi province in mainland China, alleges one of the junketers, Xiongming Xie, has links to organized crime. The lawsuit accuses Xie and his associate, Zhuangqian Fang, of fraud and SkyCity of negligence and breach of trust in relation to the missing millions.<\/p>\n

According to the complaint, in May 2019, Ma visited SkyCity to gamble as part of Fang\u2019s junket. But Sydney-based Xie was in fact organizing proceedings using China-based Fang\u2019s junket license.<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to court filings, Xi is banned from every casino in Australia and has \u201csubstantial gambling debts.\u201d<\/p>\n

$5 Million Winning Streak<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chinese VIPs typically pay money to junkets via bank transfer prior to their trip. This gives them credit in the form of non-negotiable \u201crolling chips\u201d at a casino VIP room, circumventing the strict controls on the movement of large amounts of money out of China.<\/p>\n

Casinos partner with junkets and usually pay them a monthly commission, provided the gamblers they bring generate a minimum guaranteed rolling chip turnover. The junkets will settle up once the wealthy gamblers have returned to China.<\/p>\n

\n

Ma hit SkyCity on May 21, 2019 in the company of a Ms. Goh, who was \u201cemployed or engaged by Mr. Xie as an escort or hostess for high-rollers,\u201d according to the lawsuit. Joining them was a Ms. Zhang, who also appeared to be in the employ of Xie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ma initially withdrew A$400,000 (US$310,000) in chips to play baccarat and promptly lost A$370,000 (US$286,720).<\/p>\n

The next day, he reloaded with another A$600,000 (US$465,000) worth of chips and went on a winning streak, amassing chips to the value of A$5,048,500 (US$3,900,000) on top of his stake.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Argument at SkyCity<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Ma tried to cash out his chips, Goh told him it couldn\u2019t be done until the following Monday. An argument ensued between Ma and the two women, who were \u201cbehaving in a furtive and suspicious manner,\u201d according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

SkyCity employees then placed the chips in a safety deposit box. Ma claims they told him only he could access the box.<\/p>\n

The businessman had to return to Hong Kong to attend his son\u2019s graduation, and he planned to collect his winnings in June on his return to Adelaide, where he has significant business investments.<\/p>\n

But according to court documents, on May 29 someone at SkyCity transferred most of the money to Xie, who has made no attempt since to settle with Ma.<\/p>\n

Xie\u2019s Shady History <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The lawsuit accuses Xie of being a \u201cdangerous and violent criminal\u201d with \u201clinks with Asian Triad criminal gangs.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to past reports in the Australian press, he is the former deputy of a wealthy junket operator called Tom Zhou \u2013 known as \u201cMr. Chinatown\u201d \u2014 who worked with Crown Resorts and is wanted by Interpol for serious criminal conduct.<\/p>\n

\n

Xie faced criminal charges in Australia in 2019 over allegations he threatened a man with a knife while demanding the transfer of a A$10 million property (US$7.75 million). <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In 2016, he was allegedly the target of an apparent murder attempt when he was stabbed outside his Sydney home by two men of Asian appearance.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit is embarrassing for SkyCity at a time when the Australian casino industry is facing high levels of scrutiny<\/a> over its relationships with junket operators and their alleged links to organized crime.<\/p>\n

A damning anti-money laundering report published last month recommended that Crown Resorts should lose its New South Wales license because it had allowed triad gangs to launder money at its VIP rooms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Chinese high roller is suing SkyCity Adelaide and two junket operators. The suit alleges the misappropriation of some A$4.84 million (US$3.75 million) in casino winnings. Millionaire Linong Ma, a resident of both Hong Kong and Shanxi province in mainland China, alleges one of the junketers, Xiongming Xie, has links to organized crime. The lawsuit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":167067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69069,60],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHigh Roller Sues SkyCity, Alleged Triad Junket Over Missing Millions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SkyCity casino sued along with junket operator Xiongming Xie after gambler Linong Ma who claims almost $5 million in winnings stolen.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"High Roller Sues SkyCity, Alleged Triad Junket Over Missing Millions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"SkyCity casino sued along with junket operator Xiongming Xie after gambler Linong Ma who claims almost $5 million in winnings stolen.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Casino.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Casino.OrgNews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-12T11:39:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-12T19:22:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/xi.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1036\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"568\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philip Conneller\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@casinoorgphilc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Philip Conneller\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/\",\"name\":\"High Roller Sues SkyCity, Alleged Triad Junket Over Missing Millions\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/xi.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-12T11:39:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-03-12T19:22:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/58769b72851c8cf117fb58ca150ebf8b\"},\"description\":\"SkyCity casino sued along with junket operator Xiongming Xie after gambler Linong Ma who claims almost $5 million in winnings stolen.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/high-roller-sues-skycity-alleged-triad-junket-over-missing-millions\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/xi.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/xi.jpg\",\"width\":1036,\"height\":568,\"caption\":\"Junket operator and gambler Xiongming Xie attends the opening of a Shaolin Kung Fu center in Sydney. 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