Eight people, four of them Malaysian citizens, were arrested in Las Vegas for operating an illegal gambling ring that pulled in millions of US dollars in bets for World Cup matches.
Phua Wei Seng, a 50-year old former gaming junket operator at Macau’s Sands casino hotel, was among the four Malaysians accused of running a scheme that took bets online via wi-fi and DSL lines that employees of the Caesar’s Palace casino were asked to install in their hotel suites.
Also arrested were Phua’s son Darren Wai Kit, 22, Yong Seng Chen, 56, and Yong Wai Kin, 22.
The other four arrested in the operation were a Chinese national and four Hong Kong residents.
According to The Star Online, Phua and his son were allowed after the arraignment hearing to stay with a Las Vegas doctor and poker enthusiast. A prelimniary hearing for their case is scheduled to be held on August 4.
Phua was required to post up a USD2 million (RM6.37 million) bail for his release pending the preliminary hearing. He was also required to wear a GPS monitoring device and put up his USD48 million (RM152.95 million) private Gulfstream jet as collateral.
Phua is also known as Paul Phua on the international pro poker circuit, where he has garnered recognition as a participant in the 2012 World Series of Poker’s Big One For One Drop tournament.
Recently, he came in sixth at the 2014 European Poker Tour Grand Final Monte Carlo 100k Super High Roller tourney.
