In return for Mr. BJ Traveler's warning about Nepal Custom Police's trap, I think it's only fair to return his favor by warning him and or others about the Star Vegas Casino's POTENTIAL trap:
a Thai gambler, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the gambling community was suspicious of the allegations. Noting that any gamblers who won more than Bt100,000 were supposed to be investigated by the casino staff, he questioned how it was possible that the nine had been allowed to cheat the casino out of Bt90 million before being noticed.
Unless the casino revealed the findings of its investigation, gamblers would not dare the play there, fearing that they might face similar allegations, he warned.
It may or may not be a trap setup by Star Vegas Casino (Only time will tell...just like the case about the Nepal Custom Police case). For the full story, read on:
Nine Thais held in Poipet over alleged hi-tech casino scam
Published on January 16, 2005
Sa Kaew - A group of nine Thai gamblers, including a Chiang Mai socialite, have been detained in Cambodia after they were caught allegedly using hi-tech electronic equipment to fix bets at Poipet�s Vegas Casino.
Casino staff said they had found two Thais with hidden micro-cameras on their persons while playing baccarat inside the casino.
The devices were linked to GPRS and Bluetooth communication systems that sent signals to a notebook PC monitored by other group members staying in a hotel room upstairs, said casino staff.
The scam allowed the group to see the cards being dealt in the game and then relayed the information to members at the gaming table, they said.
The group reportedly cheated Bt90 million from the casino.
Among those detained inside Cambodia since last Wednesday are Chokaew Wisuthaseriwong, 61. Chokaew is a relative of well-known socialite Koko Prakaikavil na Chiang Mai and the chairman of Chiang Mai�s Provincial Administrative Organisation, Thawatwong na Chiang Mai.
The gambling party crossed into Poipet on Monday.
Sources said the nine had not been permitted to leave the Vegas Casino after officers caught them allegedly using the electronic equipment to fix bets.
�Three Thais managed to flee the casino with Bt90 million, but nine were left behind,� a source said.
The sources said Cambodian police were trying to negotiate with the nine in an effort to get them to return their gambling winnings in exchange for their release
Source:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/01/16/headlines/index.php?news=headlines_16090825.html#
Thailand launches investigation into gambling accusations
SA KAEOW, Jan 16, (TNA) � Police and military officials working in the Thai-Cambodian border area today launched an investigation into claims that nine Thai gamblers had cheated casinos in the Cambodian town of Poi Pet of over Bt90 million, a claim which the gamblers have consistently denied.
The team of officers from the Thai-Cambodia Border Office, led by Lt. Col. Choocheep Phothinok and Pol. Lt. Wichan Jittayanant travelled to Poi Pet this morning, but were refused access to the nine Thai accused, with Cambodian police officers saying they first needed clearance from the head of the Cambodian police force.
Pol. Lt. Wicharn said that the Thai authorities hoped to investigate the case, and stressed that if the allegations proved to have any basis in fact, the Cambodian authorities would be given leave to take legal actions.
It is not yet clear whether the Star Vegas Casino has handed over the nine Thais to the local police to be detained.
But Thai gamblers in Poi Pet are rallying around the nine accused, warning of a mass boycott of the town�s casinos should further action be taken.
This morning a Thai gambler, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the gambling community was suspicious of the allegations. Noting that any gamblers who won more than Bt100,000 were supposed to be investigated by the casino staff, he questioned how it was possible that the nine had been allowed to cheat the casino out of Bt90 million before being noticed.
Unless the casino revealed the findings of its investigation, gamblers would not dare the play there, fearing that they might face similar allegations, he warned. (TNA)--E006
Source: http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=34847
RELATIONS WITH CAMBODIA � CASINO FRAUD
Army officers to negotiate for release of nine Thai gamblers
Army officers have been sent to negotiate with Cambodian authorities and the owner of a casino in Poipet about the release of nine Thai gamblers being held for a 90 million baht scam.
The five men and four women include a relative of celebrity socialite Chao Kokaew Prakaikavin na Chiang Mai.
They allegedly planted a microchip in a betting chip and cheated the casino out of 90 million baht.
Army spokesman Col Somkhuan Saengpattranet said a border coordinating team would negotiate with local Cambodian authorities and the owner of Star Vegas casino in Poipet, opposite Sa Kaew's Aranyaprathet district.
Among the nine Thai gamblers is Mrs Chorkaew Wisutthisereewong, 61, a relative of Chao Kokaew and younger sister of Thawatwong na Chiang Mai, chairman of the Chiang Mai provincial administrative organisation. The nine allegedly conspired with three other Thais who fled.
The casino operator has demanded they contact the other gang members to return the 90 million baht as a pre-condition for talks on their release.
Pol Lt Col Nirut Ruangjinthana, deputy chief of Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint, said Mrs Chorkaew and her friends crossed into Cambodia on Jan 10 and they were caught on Jan 12.
Sources said Mrs Chorkaew, of Chiang Mai's tambon Suthep, and her friends had placed bets in the Star Vegas casino and won 40 million baht on Jan 11 and another 50 million baht on Jan 12.
The casino management suspected them of cheating and asked to search one of the women. They found a microchip implanted in a betting chip and a radio device attached to her leg.
The casino told staff to arrest the Thai gamblers. The woman allegedly used the microchip-implanted chip to touch gambling cards. The microchip passed information about the cards to a computer device in a room where the three other gang members were staying.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Jan2005_news17.php
