Macau officials get busy

Authorities in China��s Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau have announced an investigation into alleged entry fees into Venetian Macao.

According to the Macau News Agency, a trending thread posted to the Chinese equivalent of Instagram over the weekend stated that MOP200 (US$25) was required to gain entry to Venetian Macao.

alleged casino entry charge levied upon bettors arriving on group tours

As of Tuesday morning, the post had attracted over 530 comments and spurred Macau��s Government Tourism Office (MGTO) to commit to probing the alleged casino entry charge levied upon bettors arriving on group tours.

In another gaming twist for Macau, the recently passed gambling crimes bill has an immediate impact on one of the oldest institutions in the SAR. News emerged over the weekend that sales of tickets for the Mark Six lottery run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will result in fines or a maximum of two years in prison.

Lottery ban, alleged casino scam

The Mark Six lottery sale ban will directly affect family-run and small to medium businesses, and by extension, the HKJC. 

Macau lawmaker Ron Lam argued that Mark Six lottery tickets were ��often sold by small local shops that did not engage in organized illegal operations.�� Macau��s Government Secretary for Administration and Justice Andr�� Cheong Weng Chon, however, overruled Lam, stating a ban was needed ��to prevent young people from easily accessing lottery tickets.��

The ban has already snared a married couple after they were found selling 58 Mark Six tickets at their corner shop. According to Focus Asia Pacific, the couple has allegedly made MOP1,960 ($245) in profits since the pair started selling the HKJC lottery tickets in February.?

Also on Macau��s hot topics list is the alleged Venetian Macao entry fee scam. Director of MGTO Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told the media Sunday she was aware of the allegations and that investigations were underway.

Macau travel agencies may have been spreading misinformation

Fernandes�� comments suggest her organization believes that Macau travel agencies may have been spreading misinformation. If this is the case, Fernandes warned, ��fines will be imposed as a primary punishment.��

The MGTO head added the censure ��could potentially impact�� travel agencies wishing to renew their licenses. Plus, Fernandes said, unauthorized tour guides found to have been involved would incur separate penalties. 

Low-budget tours in spotlight

According to Macau Business, the MGTO head urged travelers to avoid low-budget tours, which she attributed as the source of such long-running issues like the alleged Venetian Macao scam. 

Such tours to Macau are mostly routed from the mainland China province of Guangdong.

A Legislative Assembly committee is mulling new legislation aimed at combatting the ��zero-cost�� tours, with operators facing penalties from MOP50,000 ($6,218) to MOP70,000 ($8,741). The discounted tours often depend on visitors making purchases to generate commissions, which, according to media reports, ��could result in coerced purchases or even disputes during the process.��

The post Macau Probes Alleged Venetian Casino Entry Fee as HKJC Lottery Sales Banned appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

UKGC on war footing

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has fired a warning shot at unregulated gambling markets ahead of its announcement that it will publish its report on the black market sector in the spring of 2025. 

UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes revealed the UK government��s gambling regulator is mustering multiple forces to tackle the black market with the immediate target being unregulated ��prize draws and competitions.��

Ahead of its 2025 report, the UKGC has published a new ��evidence-led�� methodology paper outlining its strategy to identify and take down unlicensed online gambling operators.

introduction of a new cease-and-desist process��

According to reports, ��a key development will be the introduction of a new cease-and-desist process�� aimed at firms offering illegal prize draws and competitions. This is an area of prime concern for UK government agencies, including HM Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency.

Regulator on a roll

The UKGC CEO on Monday asserted the regulator will uphold its ��corporate strategy to increase investment, resources, and capacity to tackle illegal gambling,�� which the UK government views as an economic threat and a crime impacting society.

As such, the body has set out its priorities for 2025, which include improving its processes to combat illegal markets more effectively.?

��We are committed to making it difficult to provide illegal gambling at scale to consumers in Great Britain,�� Rhodes stated. Central to the UKGC��s 2025 strategy is data-driven action and collaboration. 

��The partnerships we��ve built with international regulators, technology partners, and search engines are already delivering results, and we��re determined to keep up this momentum,�� Rhodes emphasized. 

The results Rhodes is talking about is recent victories the regulator has enjoyed against unlicensed operators via blocking URLs, denying payments, and making illegal online sites inaccessible.

255 websites taken down

According to the Commission, collaboration with technology partners, international regulators, and other parties has seen it issue over 750 cease-and-desist notices. In addition, more than 78,000 URLs have been flagged up and removed by Google and Microsoft, with 255 websites taken down.

Tech giants on board

��By using data analytics to improve our enforcement efforts, we��re not just reacting to the problem, but proactively targeting illegal operators,�� Rhodes said.

According to media reports, the UKGC has built on its successful collaboration with Google by developing a working relationship with Microsoft and its platforms, such as Yahoo Finance and Bing, to remove black market gambling content from search results.

The Commission added that it will up its engagement with enforcement bodies like the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and strengthen links with payment providers ��to disrupt illegal transactions.��

The UKGC will also commission research into discovering why some bettors use unregulated operators and what motivates their choices. 

The post UKGC Targets Prize Draws as It Previews Combative Spring 2025 Black Market Report??? appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A man who allegedly ran an illegal blackjack game in Malaysia broke his ankle after jumping out of a second-floor window to try to escape police when they raided the gambling den.

seized playing cards and over RM52,800 ($12,269) in cash

Law enforcement surveilled the property for about a week before executing a search warrant in the early hours of Monday, arresting 19 people for gambling offenses. They also seized playing cards and over RM52,800 ($12,269) in cash.

The police chief explained in a press conference that the man who jumped out a back window broke his ankle, and they believe he was running the game with his girlfriend. The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The post Illegal Blackjack Game Organizer Breaks Ankle Jumping From Second Floor to Try Evade Police appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A man is dead after a shootout with police at an Indiana casino. The incident took place on Saturday after law enforcement received a call at approximately 1am about a man carrying a knife and chasing a woman around the Hollywood Casino Hotel in Lawrenceburg.

After receiving word that the suspect had shot a gun on the property��s fourth floor, officers confronted him in the hallway. He proceeded to start shooting at them, despite their orders for him to drop his weapon. The police returned fire and hit him at least once.

one person at the casino received treatment for minor injuries

The authorities won��t release the victim��s name until they get an official identification and notify the next of kin. Lawrenceburg Police Department officers came out of the incident unscathed, although one person at the casino received treatment for minor injuries after the suspect attacked them.

Talking about the ordeal to local media, a nearby resident said the scene was full of ambulances, police, and fire trucks, describing it as ��lit up like the Fourth of July or something.��

The Indiana casino is no stranger to serious incidents. A man tried robbing the cashier cage in March with a gun, taking a hostage as he tried to escape. Police officers eventually tracked him down to a nearby forest after using K-9 dogs, a drone, and a helicopter.

The post Man Dead After Shootout With Police at Indiana Casino appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A man remains in critical condition in the hospital after getting shot multiple times in the legs while in the parking lot of the Rivers Casino in Philadelphia. The incident took place in broad daylight on Thursday, with onlookers expressing their shock after shots started ringing out at midday.

Speaking to local media, one individual said people need to be careful these days and warned: ��You got to watch your back wherever you go.��

still searching for the shooter who left the scene in a car

Police confirmed the injured party is a 37-year-old male who is getting treatment at Jefferson Hospital. They are still searching for the shooter who left the scene in a car, with law enforcement obtaining video footage from the casino.

TripAdvisor reviews for the property aren��t too flattering. One person, whose car was vandalized in the parking lot, told readers: ��Go and hang around in this place if you want to risk your life and property.��

The post Man in Critical Condition After Midday Shooting Outside Philadelphia Casino appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

INTERPOL has revealed the results of a worldwide crackdown on illegal soccer gambling, which resulted in over 5,100 arrests and the seizure of $59m.

The SOGA X operation took place in June and July to specifically combat illegal online betting on the UEFA 2024 tournament; the police organization worked alongside law enforcement in 28 nations and territories.

rescue of hundreds of human trafficking victims

Some other positive outcomes of the operation were the closure of thousands of illegal online platforms, the uncovering of major money laundering operations, and the rescue of hundreds of human trafficking victims.

INTERPOL helped dismantle a gambling operation in Vietnam that handled $800,000 per day and used an intricate network of e-wallets and bank accounts to manage the payments. Another major win was in Thailand, where raids on two locations led to the seizure of assets worth more than $9m.

The biggest case of human trafficking was in the Philippines, where the authorities helped over 650 victims who were given false promises of employment at a scam center that also focused on illegal gambling. These people had to work against their will.

Talking about the success of the operation, INTERPOL Police Services Executive Director Stephen Kavanagh said it was not possible without ��global information sharing and significant efforts by law enforcement authorities on the ground.��

The post INTERPOL��s Illegal Soccer Betting Operation Led to 5,100 Arrests and Seizure of $59m appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Clark County has honored the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa security officer who saved lives when he intervened in a stabbing incident at the property in August.

Officials presented Jefferson Hrusovsky with an official proclamation certificate acknowledging his deeds during a ceremony at the Clark County Commission headquarters on Tuesday. The eight-year Marine said a few words during the presentation:

The incident started when a guest started verbally berating casino workers, which led to the attacker stabbing two employees. Hrusovsky intervened and non-fatally shot the 25-year-old suspect once. He received widespread praise for his sharp actions.

agreed the prosecution possessed sufficient evidence to get a conviction

The attacker, Shayne Sussmen, submitted a guilty by Alford plea on Tuesday to three counts of attempted murder. An Alford plea means that although he didn��t admit his guilt, he agreed the prosecution possessed sufficient evidence to get a conviction. Sentencing will take place on November 26 and he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The post Clark County Honors Security Officer Who Saved Lives During Red Rock Stabbing Incident appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A guitarist who played for Ozzy Osbourne for about five years in the 1980s was the victim of a random shooting attack on Tuesday morning in Las Vegas. Jake E. Lee was walking his dog at approximately 2:40am in a neighborhood about ten miles south of the Las Vegas Strip when the shooting took place.

will fully recover after getting hit with bullets in his chest, foot, and arm

The musician is responsive in the hospital, and medical staff believe he will fully recover after getting hit with bullets in his chest, foot, and arm. Police haven��t made any arrests and their investigation continues. People on a local Facebook page speculated that Lee confronted someone who was breaking into cars.

The 67-year-old��s family thanked people for their well wishes and asked for privacy as he recovers from the traumatic incident.

Former bandmate Ozzy Osbourne gave a statement to TMZ following the shooting, saying that while he hadn��t seen Lee for 37 years, he was in tremendous shock when he heard what happened. He labeled the incident as ��another senseless act of gun violence�� and extended his support to Lee and his daughter Jade.

The post Former Guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne Shot in Las Vegas While Walking Dog appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Magistrate withdraws

A hearing into an Australian teacher accused of running a gambling syndicate with his students has collapsed after the sitting magistrate was heard to have said he ��could not wait�� to find him guilty.

Wollongong High teacher Phil Saunders is accused of indecent assault of a person under his authority, indecent assault of a person under 16, intimidation, and engaging in gambling with a minor.

could not wait for the matter to be over and to find the accused guilty��

However, the hearing has collapsed after magistrate Michael Ong recused himself from the process after a police officer reported that Ong had said to a prosecutor he ��could not wait for the matter to be over and to find the accused guilty and move onto the next thing.��

Underage gambling ring

The court had heard 29 days of evidence suggesting that amid accounts of indecent assault, Saunders was also running a gambling ring with several of his students.

Witnesses reported seeing a whiteboard displaying bets on English Premier League soccer games, next to which were the names of individual students.

money was collected from students and placed on the desk of the teacher

It was also stated that money was collected from students and placed on the teacher��s desk, although witnesses did not report seeing Saunders collect the cash.

One of Saunders�� colleagues also stated that Saunders is a die-hard Liverpool FC fan and enjoys betting on horse racing at the weekends. In response, Saunders stated that he only bet on racing, and never soccer.

The case had already taken an unusual turn when a friend of Saunders, Milos Dobre, pleaded guilty earlier in the year to intimidating witnesses after threatening one of his colleagues in a car park.

Magistrate denies conversation

The hearing soon became jeopardized when Ong became aware of a written statement from a police officer, who had spoken out of court to a prosecutor who claimed Ong was desperate to pass a guilty verdict.

Ong rejected the report of his conversation, stating: ��I deny any of the words against the accused in this matter attributed to me in the statement. I do not hold a bias towards the accused now or at any time �� I do not accept any bias before these proceedings.��

Ong declared that the hearing would have to be dropped due to public perception

Despite the assertation, Ong declared that the hearing would have to be dropped due to public perception and confidence in the justice system.

��The overriding consideration is the public��s confidence in the system of justice as it applies to them,�� said Ong. ��The public��s confidence would be more affected by the continuation with potential bias.��

Despite legal bills for the case running in excess of AU$400,000 ($268,700), a new hearing will now take place, which is expected to take around thirty days to finalize.

The post Case Collapses Against Teacher Accused of Running Betting Syndicate With Students appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A great-grandmother in the UK stole ��115,000 ($150,000) from the region��s biggest independent archaeology charity, which caused the organization to call off some of its major projects.

avoiding prison time due to her poor health

Pamela Bent used the money to deal with her gambling debts, taking it from the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP) over a period of 19 months when working as the charity��s treasurer. She received a two-year suspended sentence for the fraud, avoiding prison time due to her poor health.

The 65-year-old came clean about the theft to Norfolk police, saying she borrowed the money to meet her mortgage payments. Bent repaid about half the sum before the fraud was uncovered. She still needs to pay back ��61,000 ($79,787), and the court is mandating she sell her residence to raise the remainder of the funds.

Talking about the fraud’s impact on SHARP, the charity��s excavation director, Dr. Eleanor Blakelock, said the lack of money meant it had to put off major projects, and the team��s trust in Bent ��has been completely torn to shreds.��

The post Archaeology Charity Scraps Projects After Great-Grandmother Steals ��115k to Pay Gambling Debts appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Crypto fugitive

A German international being detained under house arrest in New York over his alleged involvement in a $150m crypto scam is now a fugitive, according to reports.

Jicha reportedly tampered with his ankle monitor before failing to appear in a Brooklyn court

Horst Jicha was awaiting trial for securities fraud and conspiracy and was being held on a $5m bond which was put up by his family. Jicha reportedly tampered with his ankle monitor before failing to appear in a Brooklyn court.

John Marzuli, a spokesman for the Brooklyn US Attorney��s Office, said: ��There��s a very active investigation underway to capture him,�� before adding that the bond, $4m of which was guaranteed by Jicha��s family in Germany, will be forfeited.

Promises of returns

Jicha allegedly ran a cryptocurrency scam through his company, USI Tech, which promised investors returns of 140% in just 140 days around 2017.

Investors were told there were two methods by which they could earn vast returns: by investing in bitcoin mining and trading, or by referring other investors to the platform.

��Jicha brought USI Tech to the United States and aggressively marketed it to US retailers on social media and through in-person presentations in which he falsely guaranteed high returns on investments and made false claims about the legality of the platform��s investment offerings,�� the US attorney��s office said.

When questions arose, Jicha stole millions of his investors�� money and fled the country��

��In reality the platform was just a facade, and when questions arose, Jicha stole millions of his investors�� money and fled the country,�� said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith, speaking in January.

House arrest

Jicha had lived in Spain and Brazil before he was arrested in Florida over the case in late 2023. Having lived in Brooklyn, he was held in house arrest but not permitted to leave New York City or Long Island.

He was not allowed to leave his home without permission from Pretrial Services save for attorney visits, court appearances, and medical appointments. He was also forced to wear an ankle monitor and surrender all travel documents.

Pretrial Services had noticed the ankle monitor was not operating correctly

However, at a pretrial hearing, US District Court Judge Orelia Merchant heard that Pretrial Services had noticed the ankle monitor was not operating correctly and emailed Jicha asking him to appear at their office the following day.

Pretrial Services did not inform prosecutors about the situation until he failed to show up at the office – over 24 hours after they became aware that the monitor had potentially been tampered with.

The post German National Under Detention in New York Over $150m Crypto Scam Skips Bail appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Sold, not savored

A Scottish whisky auction manager has admitted to stealing ��43,000 ($54,782) of rare bottles, not to savor the expensive liquors, but to sell them to fund his gambling debts.

stole 45 rare bottles of whisky

Andrew Grant, 44, of Bearsden, Glasgow, admitted before Perth Sheriff Court that he stole 45 rare bottles of whisky and other spirits from his employer Whisky Auctioneer Ltd between 17 August and 22 December 2021.

According to the Daily Record, Grant duped his relatives into believing he was entitled to buy the bottles, worth 100s or 1000s of pounds each, to collectors?at ��a huge discount�� from Whisky Auctioneer.

Grant ��his brother and others�� then sold the stolen bottles to a variety of auction houses, including back to his own employer. Along with the others involved, court documents reveal Grant made ����24,500 ($31,531) from the scam.��

Abusing his position

Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC told the court in the Scottish city of Perth that Grant: ��breached the trust�� of Whisky Auctioneer by stealing premium-priced goods from them. 

Sheriff Bain also pointed out how the convicted Head of Operations knew Whisky Auctioneer did not have a whisky tracking process in place, because he was the one responsible for failing to install one. In addition, Grant��s security clearance granted him access to the rare bottles�� storage area. 

Fiscal depute Stephanie Paterson told the court, however, that during a stock check 45 rare bottles of whisky were missing from the inventory, and that electronic records did not match.

four people had sold all the missing bottles via different whisky auctions

Paterson said that further investigation revealed four people had sold all the missing bottles via different whisky auctions. Police Scotland then proceeded to examine bank accounts.

Paterson stated the police found 60% of any payments received were transferred to Grant. 

Sheriff Bane said that Grant hatched the scam and ��got family and friends involved in selling�� to fund his gambling addiction. ��I know you are rightly devastated and ashamed of your behaviour,�� Bane told the accused.?

Driven by debt

Grant��s lawyer Doug McConnell told the court the background to his client��s case of offense was underscored by ��a fairly complicated and entrenched gambling addiction.��

��He is a single man who kept it to himself and had no support. He appreciates the breach of trust, and what makes it worse was that he got friends and family involved.��

McConnell added Grant has sought help for his addiction and that he attends Gamblers Anonymous on a weekly basis.

Sheriff Bain ordered Grant to complete 300-hours unpaid work, placed him under supervision for three years, and instructed him to pay ��2,000 ($1,303) in compensation to Whisky Auctioneer.

The post Whisky Auction Manager Stole Expensive Liquor for Gambling Addiction appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.