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Casino Gambler Escapes to China Following Detection of Counterfeit Chips

Sydney Star Casino patron inserted 34,000 in counterfeit chips, however may have intended a more substantial con, reportedly claimed NSW Police.

SymClub
May 7, 2024
2 min read
Newscasino
The Star Casino Sydney, above. Police speculate that the suspect in a chip counterfeiting case may...
The Star Casino Sydney, above. Police speculate that the suspect in a chip counterfeiting case may have been planning to pull off a much bigger fraud at the casino but fled when the fakes were spotted by eagle-eyed staff.

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Casino Gambler Escapes to China Following Detection of Counterfeit Chips

A Chinese national who tried to cheat Sydney's Star Casino with "top-notch fake chips" in April managed to escape the scene and fly to China later that day, Australian newspaper Daily Telegraph reported.

The anonymous suspect arrived in Australia on March 29 and checked into a hotel before going straight to the casino. At around 11:30 p.m., he asked the cashier for a chip color change, but the employees grew suspicious of the chips he brought with him. The cashed bolted, leaving behind $10K worth of chips.

Surveillance footage captured a man dressed in black and white sneakers rushing out of the casino and dodging a security guard's pursuit. He then checked out of his hotel and left for the airport, catching a flight around 8 a.m.

Investigators discovered another $24K worth of fake chips in circulation at the casino, leading them to believe this was just a dress rehearsal for a larger scam. The source of the chips remains unknown, but it's speculated the suspect may have smuggled some real chips back to China following his January visit. The details of how casino staff detected the fakes have not been disclosed.

Casinos have faced an increasing challenge of detecting and stopping counterfeit chips with advanced features like RFID technology and ultraviolet stamping, but the use of fake chips has risen due to the availability of realistic fakes online - even on the dark web.

"These were exceptionally high-grade counterfeits," Detective Superintendent Peter Faux of the NSW Organized Crime Squad commented. "Star reported the discovery within minutes of being aware of them and have been of great help in our investigation."

"The man was here on a temporary visa and used his real name and traveled on a legitimate passport," Faux continued. "He booked a hotel room for three days from March 29, but left on March 30."

NSW Police are currently collaborating with Interpol and Chinese authorities as part of their investigation into the incident.

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Source: www.casino.org

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