A Hong Kong punter ran up a US$3 million (HK$23.4 million) bill in a three-day gambling splurge at a Las Vegas casino, according to High Court writ.
The Venetian Casino Resort, run by Las Vegas Sands Inc, wants the money back, along with interest and costs, from Peter Kok Pang-ho, whom it says also uses the name Peter Hao.
The writ, lodged yesterday and issued through SAR law firm Deacons, says Mr Kok was a patron of the casino last year. On April 12 the Venetian agreed to extend credit to Mr Kok for gambling at the casino, it says.
From May 2 to May 5, Mr Kok signed seven credit instruments, or 'markers', and obtained gambling chips worth US$3 million. But the casino says he did not repay the loan, which should have been paid back on or before August 4.
Venetian says it wrote to Mr Kok through its solicitors earlier this month demanding payment of the sum, but had still not received the money.
In 1998, the Burswood Casino in Australia hunted a Hong Kong man for $3.13 million in gambling debts through Asean Protective Services, an Australian firm of private investigators engaged by casinos to track down non-payers.