A prolonged legal dispute involving Hong Kong businessman Linong Ma and Australian casino SkyCity Adelaide has finally come to a close, settling a high-stakes case that stretched over six years. The disagreement centered around millions of dollars in alleged unpaid winnings and also involved two junket operators — one of whom was found liable by default after failing to appear in court.
Chinese High Roller Claims Casino and Junket Partners Withheld Over $3 Million
Linong Ma, a high-stakes gambler from Shanxi province in China, accused SkyCity Adelaide of not honoring a major gambling win during a trip in May 2019. According to Ma, the casino withheld over AUD5 million (approx. $3.2 million) in baccarat winnings. He also alleged fraudulent conduct by two junket operators — Xiongming Xie and Fang Zhuangqian — who facilitated his trip.
In court filings, Ma explained that he had wired funds in China to Xie, who ran a Sydney-based junket operation using a license associated with Fang. The arrangement was designed to grant Ma access to VIP gaming in Australia, using non-negotiable chips and assistance from a hostess identified as Goh in legal documents.
Following his successful run at the casino, Ma was assured by SkyCity staff that his chips would be stored in a deposit box he could access later. However, while Ma was back in Hong Kong, casino employees handed those chips over to Xie without Ma’s consent. Only part of the winnings — AUD1.46 million (approximately $937,900) — was eventually returned to him.
SkyCity Reaches Confidential Resolution, Court Penalizes Absent Junket Operator
Ma’s lawyers accused SkyCity of negligence and alleged fraud on the part of both Xie and Fang. Xie had previously been the subject of serious criminal allegations unrelated to the case, including a violent incident in Sydney and suspected links to organized crime.
This week, SkyCity and Xie reached a confidential financial settlement, avoiding further legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the South Australian Supreme Court issued a default ruling against Fang due to his failure to attend mandatory mediation sessions or participate in the case. Judge Laura Stein criticized Fang for repeatedly ignoring court directives and granted Ma the right to compensation, with the final payout to be determined in the near future.
The conclusion of this multi-year legal saga sheds light on the complex and, at times, murky world of high-stakes gambling, cross-border junket operations, and casino oversight in Australia.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com