A report from Korea on illegal gambling by Koreans in Macau proves once again that people who want to gamble will find a way of doing so. The question is, in the case of these Korean players, why travel to an illegal game in Macau when they could gamble at the only casino open to them in their own country, KangwonLand. The only credible answer must be that their funds do not bear close scrutiny – they were not on a sight-seeing trip to Macau.

Police in Seoul yesterday arrested a casino operator, only named as Kim, who had arranged junkets for Korean gamblers and facilities to exchange Korean won through illegal money lenders in Macau, obtaining a 1.25% commission for exchanging betting chips. The man had apparently purchased the right to operate a gambling joint in the Venetian Macao for 4.6 billion won in April.

An estimated 190 billion won (US$155 million) has been bet in Macau in the illegal operation. Around 160 people had deposited money in a bank account that has been traced back to a company owned by Kim. It is believed that the lucrative business gave Kim profits in the region of 10.4 billion won. He has been charged with running an unlicensed gambling operation. (E-08.10.09)

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