Content Writer: Janice Chew • Monday, 26/01/2026 - 22:14:13 - PM
Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) have dismantled a criminal ring involved in using counterfeit casino chips to defraud gamblers, arresting four men who admitted participating in the scheme. Officers seized 128 fake chips, each marked with a HK$10,000 denomination, during coordinated actions at casinos in Cotai and the New Port area. Three gamblers reported losses totalling around HK$210,000 from exchanging the bogus chips for cash, though the casinos themselves did not record direct losses as a result of the fraud.
The investigation began on January 3, 2026, when a suspect attempted to exchange multiple high-value chips at a Cotai casino but was challenged by the gambler, who suspected the chips were fake. Casino staff intervened and notified police, triggering a broader probe across venues operated by the same gaming company. In total, 128 counterfeit chips believed to be from the same batch were uncovered, prompting multiple arrests and further tracking of syndicate involvement.
Police allege the four detained men were recruited by a larger criminal syndicate based on intelligence that the group had entered Macau from the mainland and were tasked with targeting gamblers willing to swap chips for cash. Each suspect reportedly expected a minimum payment for successful exchanges, highlighting a profit-driven fraud network exploiting casino patrons rather than venues. All four individuals have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office to face charges including participation in a criminal organisation and large-scale fraud.
Counterfeit chip fraud is not new to Macau’s gambling industry; previous police operations have uncovered similar schemes with fake chips used to swindle casinos or gamblers, reflecting ongoing challenges in policing such illicit activity amid Macau’s vibrant gaming scene. In earlier crackdowns, authorities seized hundreds of fake chips and arrested multiple suspects linked to organised groups targeting casino customers and money-changer networks.
