Macau casino junket operator vanishes, leaving massive debts
Macau's casino junket operators - who bring in the city's high-rolling gamblers - have come under renewed scrutiny after one of their number disappeared owing US$1.3 billion.
Macau's casino junket operators - who bring in the city's high-rolling gamblers - have come under renewed scrutiny after one of their number disappeared owing US$1.3 billion.
Security sources say Huang Shan, who has operated junkets in Macau for several years, vanished a week to 10 days ago, leaving the massive debts. His disappearance has fuelled concerns over illegal "side betting'' in the city's lucrative VIP rooms.
Huang is understood to owe huge sums to at least four Macau casinos.
His disappearance comes a month after Las Vegas Sands increased its scrutiny of junket operators in a move that could see a shake-out among the middlemen who account for two-thirds of the betting in the world's largest gambling market.
This shows how oblivious casinos and government are to what goes on in VIP rooms
Junket operators, who bring wealthy gamblers from the mainland, are being asked to provide more information about their businesses to Sands as the company seeks to bolster its safeguards against money laundering and other illegal activities.
The changes are likely to reduce the number of junket operators working with Sands, according to sources.