Dupes Nabbed for Falsifying Chipsets at Galaxy Macau Casino
In an alarming incident that has raised concerns about security within Macau's casino environment, authorities have apprehended two Chinese nationals for orchestrating a chip forgery scheme at the Galaxy Macau Casino. The fraudulent activity was detected on August 21, 2023, and reported to the Macau Judicial Police, who have been investigating the case since.
During a press conference on Wednesday, it was disclosed that the ruse was uncovered when an observant dealer noticed a slightly rough texture on some of the chips. As a result of the investigation, authorities seized a total of 182 counterfeit chips and 19 authentic chips from the two arrested individuals. The counterfeit chips had a total value of HK$2 million, and the authorities also confiscated HK$118,300 connected to the case.
The scale of this particular scam is notable, with the seizure of a substantial number of fake chips valued at HK$10,000 each. Over a span of two hours, 493 fake chips were distributed throughout the casino. However, the actual extent of the operation might have involved up to 804 chips, although the methodology behind this estimation remains undisclosed.
The intention of the scam was a quick exchange of fake chips for genuine ones, followed by a rapid cash-out. Modern casino chips integrate RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology, making them harder to counterfeit and facilitating their tracking within the casino environment. Unfortunately, counterfeit casino chips have been on the rise, largely due to the accessibility of realistic forgeries via the dark web and other online platforms.
Despite this incident, Macau's gaming sector continues to thrive economically. Substantial gross gaming revenue (GGR) was reported for July 2025, suggesting that the fraud did not severely impact overall casino operations. However, no further detailed updates on arrests, the scale of the operation beyond the seized amount, or the identities of the suspects have been publicly disclosed as of mid-July 2025.
The ongoing challenge of counterfeit chip incidents is emphasized by the magnitude of the Galaxy Macau case. It serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and robust security measures within Macau's casino industry. The authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
[1] Macau Business, (2023). Macau Judicial Police uncover HK$2 million chip forgery scam at Galaxy Macau Casino. [online] Available at: https://www.macaubusiness.com/news/macau-judicial-police-uncover-hk2-million-chip-forgery-scam-at-galaxy-macau-casino/ [2] South China Morning Post, (2023). Macau casino chip forgery scandal highlights security concerns. [online] Available at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3172596/macau-casino-chip-forgery-scandal-highlights-security-concerns [3] The Straits Times, (2023). Macau casino chip forgery highlights security concerns. [online] Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/china/macau-casino-chip-forgery-highlights-security-concerns [4] GGRAsia, (2025). Macau GGR up 3.6% in July. [online] Available at: https://www.ggrasianews.com/mainland-china/macau-ggr-up-3-6-in-july [5] Asia Gaming Brief, (2025). Macau GGR up 3.6% in July. [online] Available at: https://www.agbrief.com/2025/08/macau-ggr-up-3-6-in-july/
- The galaxy Macau Casino was the site of a significant chip forgery scheme, with authorities seizing 182 counterfeit chips and 19 authentic chips from the two arrested individuals.
- The fraudsters intended to quickly exchange the fake chips for genuine ones, followed by a rapid cash-out, but their operation was detected when an observant dealer noticed a slightly rough texture on some of the chips.
- Despite the incident, Macau's gaming sector continued to thrive economically, with substantial gross gaming revenue reported for July 2025, suggesting that the fraud did not severely impact overall casino operations.
- The ongoing challenge of counterfeit chip incidents in casinos highlights the need for continued vigilance and robust security measures within Macau's casino industry, and the authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
