Macau police arrest two mainland men over livestreamed baccarat and remote betting at Cotai casino

Macau's Judiciary Police (PJ) have arrested two men from the Chinese mainland on suspicion of livestreaming casino play in Cotai to take remote bets from customers. PJ spokesman Cheong Siu Keong outlined the case at a special press conference. He identified the suspects as farmers surnamed Zhang and Li, aged 41 and 44.

According to Cheong, police received a tip-off at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday about suspected remote betting at a Cotai casino. The two men had reportedly entered the venue at about 2:00 p.m., wearing earphones, and officers intercepted them at the property.

Police described a division of roles at the baccarat table. Zhang placed the bets, while Li stood behind him and used a mobile phone to broadcast the game. Both men received betting instructions through Bluetooth earphones from gamblers on the mainland, who were able to direct play while the pair were physically in the casino. Cheong said the session lasted about 30 minutes, and that mainland customers had supplied HK$50,000, equivalent to 51,533 patacas, as gambling capital.

During the operation, officers seized three smartphones and two Bluetooth earphones with receivers. They also recovered HK$115,000 in casino chips and 2,600 yuan in cash, equivalent to 3,146 patacas. All of the items have been impounded.

Zhang and Li were sent to the Public Prosecutions Office on the day of the press conference. They face charges of illegal operation of online gambling and online mutual betting. Investigators are continuing to look into the suspects' alleged illicit proceeds.

The case shows how remote betting arrangements can operate inside licensed venues, using ordinary consumer devices to link table play to customers outside the casino.