Caesars Palace Officials Called U.S. Authorities When Their Patrons Began Behaving Suspiciously
Three Hong Kong citizens were among 8 Asians arrested in a Las Vegas investigation of a World Cup soccer betting ring. The arrests took place in three hotel suites at Caesars Palace.
One of the other betting syndicate’s members may be connected to a HK$5 billion raid on June 19 in Hong Kong. It is certain that the men are tied to a notorious Asian triad society.
High Tech Betting Ring
The three Hong Kong citizens arrested were Zhang Yan, 40, Fan Yung-kueng, 46, and Herman Yeung Chun-sang, 36. The three men were involved with one mainland Chinese and four Malaysians (including Phua Wei Seng, age 50) in a scheme to take bets over the Wi-Fi and DSL lines they had Caesars Palace casino staff install in their suites.
Caesars Palace Officials Became Suspicious
Caesars casino officials became suspicious of the operation, which had large television screens and multiple monitors broadcasting World Cup games. Because Caesars management is familiar with what a sportsbook look likes, they understood that the set-up had the makings of a gambling operation.
After U.S. authorities were made aware of the suspicious activity, the FBI worked with Nevada Gaming Control Board agents on a July 9th raid on the suites. U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden has released information on the illegal gambling ring. The operation began in Las Vegas shortly after Phua Wei Seng flew from Macau. Phua Wei Seng is a high-ranking memberofthe 14K triad society. Darren Phua Wai-kit, son of the elder Phua, was among those arrested in the FBI raid.
Ring Member May Have Been Arrested in Hong Kong in June
It cannot be confirmed if the man arrested in the Las Vegas operation is the same man as the one who was arrested in Macau on June 19. In that raid, 22 different people were arrested in which is considered Hong Kong’s biggest sports betting bust ever. It is known that a Malaysian man named Phua was arrested in the Hong Kong raid. In that operation, police seized $5 billion in Hong Kong dollars on illegal World Cup bets.
A spokesman for the Macau police said, “We will seek more information from US authorities to confirm whether the two men are the same person.”
After the police raid in China, 17 of the 22 detainees were deported from the country, so the same person could be involved in both cases. The other five were barred from leaving the city and must report to the local police regularly.
Phua and Son Free until Court Hearing
A Las Vegas judge agreed to allow Phua and his son their freedom while awaiting an August 4 preliminary hearing for trial. Phua had to post $2 million in cash bail and put up his $48 million Gulfstream jet as collateral. Other conditions apply, including the need for both men to wear a GPS monitoring device. They’ll live with a Las Vegas doctor and poker enthusiast.
David Chesnoff, lawyer for Mr. Phua, said his client has the means to leave the country, but he has cooperated with authorities since his arrest on July 9. According to reports, Phua is thought to be worth $400 million.
World Cup Gambling – Record Amounts Wagered
Sports betting is at a four-year high anytime the World Cup is being played. No other sport commands the level of interest football (soccer) does worldwide. Football is popular in China and Singapore, despite a lack of success by the national teams from those countries. The 2014 World Cup betting has produced records for licensed and illegal gambling operations, with billions of dollars changing hands.
The Brazilian World Cup wrapped up on Sunday with Germany’s 1-0 defeat of Argentina. The final four of the tournament had included four heavyweights, including the host country of Brazil and the Netherlands, who many believed had the best team. With so many recognizable stars on display, gambling remained at a high level throughout the event.
