Hong Kong police smash gambling racket that used arcade machines for betting games
- The syndicate, which had a command centre in Mong Kok, is believed to have raked in more than HK$14 million in the past six months
- 29 suspects, including 3 alleged ringleaders, have been arrested so far
Hong Kong police have broken up what they believe is a sophisticated gambling syndicate behind a network of underground casinos that used arcade machines for betting games and served those from the criminal underworld, force insiders said on Tuesday.
Detectives believed the racket, run by a gang of mainland men from Hunan province, had raked in more than HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) from its eight betting establishments in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po in the past six months.
One police source said its command centre was set up in Mong Kok to collect business takings from the keepers of its gambling dens each night.
“To avoid detection, the money was transferred into their bank accounts on the mainland via money changers.”
He said the gang operated its gambling dens in residential flats in old buildings in the Kowloon West region and arcade machines running fishing games were used for betting games. Before playing, gamblers were required to buy cards for recording their scores, and points could be exchanged for cash, according to police.