Jeju Casino Dealers Probed Over Alleged Card-Marking Scam
Police in Jeju, South Korea, are investigating allegations that some casino dealers used marked cards to scam 3 Chinese customers out of KRW80 million, or US$51,718, during blackjack play at Gold Mountain Casino. The case has also raised the possibility of administrative action against the casino itself if wrongdoing is confirmed.
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Police And Local Government Review
The casino, which operates only for foreigners at Jeju Shilla Hotel in the vacation resort, is now being probed after the cheating incident was brought to the notice of the concerned authorities. The Provincial Government of Jeju, which takes care of gaming activity management in the autonomous island, has also participated in the probe proceedings.
An official from the Jeju government, speaking to GGRAsia, stated that any evidence of guilt can result in administrative sanctions against the casino, including a 3-month closure of the operations. The local government has not disclosed the number of dealers who have been under suspicion since the issue was under police investigation.
It is reported that authorities have been analyzing the card games and surveillance tapes. A Jeju official said investigators found signs of possible cheating and were examining both the playing cards and video evidence.
Alleged Marked Cards
According to local news outlets, investigators suspect the dealers used marked cards that could only be identified by someone wearing special contact lenses or glasses. The local government said it was referring to the alleged method as involving counterfeit gaming equipment.
The reported victims were 3 Chinese nationals who had reportedly won a significant amount earlier in their gambling session before dealers allegedly used marked cards to reverse the losses. Local outlets said the casino won back roughly KRW80 million before the trio left South Korea without realizing they may have been defrauded.
The allegations suggest that the scam, if proven, involved not only the use of altered cards but also a carefully concealed method of identification. Police are now working to establish how the cards were allegedly handled and whether more than 1 person was involved.
Tip-Offs And Suspicious Revenue
GGRAsia was told that the local government received tip-offs from casino employees after what was described as an internal dispute at the property. These threats seem to have influenced bringing out the truth about the incident.
As per local media sources, the alleged cheating took place on June 8. While inspecting regularly, the officials seem to have discovered that there was a sharp rise in the daily earnings at the casino, which is 1 of the small casinos in Jeju.
Officials also found it unusual that the casino generated much more revenue from blackjack than from baccarat, which is the main live-dealer game at most Jeju casinos. That imbalance added to concerns that something irregular may have taken place.
Casino Background
Gold Mountain Casino was previously known as Megaluck Casino when the casino was run by New Silkroad Culturaltainment Ltd that had its stock listed in Hong Kong. Geumsan Co Ltd bought out the company in 2024, as per the latest statistics available as of May from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in South Korea.
Meanwhile, the inquiry into the case is still underway as the police and the local authorities investigate the case involving the cheating allegations. The main focus of the case now is whether there was cheating at the casino involving 3 Chinese players using marked cards.
Source: GGR Asia
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