Macau Police Arrest Two in Casino Chip Theft Scheme

Two mainland Chinese men are under arrest after they allegedly stole HK$45,000 ($5,700) worth of chips from another player at a Cotai casino earlier this week. According to the police, the two suspects, both unemployed, utilized sleight of hand and coordination to commit the crime during an active game. Fortunately, casino staff and law enforcement reacted in time and restored the missing chips.

The Suspects Had a Clever Plan

According to local news outlet Macau Post Daily, the scheme began when a 45-year-old man surnamed Cheng befriended the 43-year-old victim on the gaming floor over the weekend. Posing as having “elite-level” gambling skills, Cheng convinced the anonymous victim to let him place bets on his behalf, starting with HK$30,000 ($3,800) worth of chips. The two continued gambling together until Monday evening.

Cheng’s behavior quickly aroused suspicion among casino staff. Officers conducting routine surveillance noticed him reaching for chips that belonged to the victim and then secretly stashing them away throughout several rounds at the table. Further examination of surveillance footage confirmed that Cheng swiped chips five times, pocketing an amount worth HK$45,000.

Instead of personally redeeming the stolen chips, Cheng went into a nearby restroom where a second suspect, 43-year-old Zhang, was waiting. According to Macau Judiciary Police officials, Cheng covertly passed along the stolen chips before returning to the gaming floor as if nothing had happened. Both men were later arrested by authorities.

Macau Authorities Remain Vigilant

Police contacted the unaware victim after the arrest, and he successfully identified his missing chips. Authorities also seized two mobile phones that were likely used to organize the theft. The two suspects have not cooperated with authorities and have been handed over to the Public Prosecutions Office as they face formal theft charges.

While Macau authorities are doing their best to crack down on illegal activities, casino-related crime remains a consistent issue. Last month, police busted an unrelated HK$74 million ($9.43 million) money laundering scheme using jewelry shops as fronts for unregulated money exchanges. That case led to multiple arrests and underlined the scope and sophistication of financial crime in the city’s gambling economy.

Although the two suspects in the recent chip theft incident do not seem to be involved in a broader criminal network, Macau authorities remain vigilant against any attempts to exploit the region’s lucrative casino industry. Unfortunately, deception still finds its way even in Macau’s watchful and tightly regulated casinos.