Casino Operator SkyCity Resolves Dispute with High Roller and Junket Operators Over Alleged Missing $4.84 Million from Gambling Sessions
Title: Chinese High Roller Settles Million-Dollar Casino Dispute
Posted: May 9, 2025, 08:08 AM
Last Updated: May 9, 2025, 08:08 AM
Author: Philip Conneller (@casinoorgphilc)
Categories: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming
High-stakes gambler Linong Ma, a multimillionaire from Hong Kong and Shanxi province, China, has resolved a contentious lawsuit against Australia's Sky City Adelaide, as well as two junket operators, all stemming from a 2019 gambling junket extravaganza that resulted in accusations of million-dollar misappropriation.
The lawsuit, initiated in 2021, targeted the casino and operators Xiongming Xie and Zhuangqian Fang in response to an Adelaide gaming adventure orchestrated by Fang. Reports alleged that Xie utilized China-based Fang's license for the junket, with questionable ties to organized crime and Australian criminal activities.
Organized Crime Associations
The suit alleged Xie's connections to organized crime, bans from every Australian casino, and significant gambling debts at the time. Previous press reports suggest Xie previously served as a deputy for junket operator and organized crime figure Tom Zhou, who Australian authorities have linked to money laundering, foreign influence operations, extortion, and human trafficking.
Xie himself faced Australian criminal charges in 2019, accused of attacking a man with a knife to demand the transfer of a A$10 million (US$7.75 million) property. Ma's lawsuit claimed the victim was "stabbed ... almost to death."
Gambling Misadventure
Ma showed up at SkyCity, in the company of a VIP hostess called "Ms. Goh", on May 21. During this visit, he initially withdrew A$400K (US$257K) in rolling chips, only to lose A$370K (US$238K) shortly after, according to the lawsuit.
Ma reloaded with an additional A$600K (US$385K) the next day and experienced a winning streak, adding over A$5 million (US$3.2 million) to his winnings. When he requested to cash out, he encountered delays, as the transaction wouldn't be finalized until the following Monday. Ma ultimately had to return to Hong Kong for his son's graduation, leaving his winnings locked away in a safety deposit box. He planned to reclaim his winnings when he returned to Adelaide.
However, the lawsuit claimed that SkyCity transferred the chips to Xie on May 29, who returned only A$1.46 million to Ma.
Ma sued SkyCity for negligence and breach of trust, as well as Xie and Fang for fraud in relation to the missing millions.
The Resolution
This week, SkyCity and Xie agreed to a confidential settlement, with the specific terms undisclosed. South Australia's Supreme Court later awarded a summary judgment against Fang, who declined to participate in mediation. This judgment remains in effect against Fang.
Sources: 1. Adelaide Now
Enrichments Added (less than 15% of content): - Adelaide Now reveals the settlement amount between Ma, Sky City, and Xie remains confidential. - The South Australia Supreme Court awarded a summary judgment against Fang, who skipped the mediation process.
- Chinese high roller Linong Ma, a multimillionaire from Hong Kong and Shanxi province, China, has resolved a contentious lawsuit against Australia's Sky City Adelaide.
- The lawsuit targeted the casino, Xiongming Xie, and Zhuangqian Fang, all stemming from a 2019 gambling junket extravaganza.
- Xiongming Xie allegedly used Zhuangqian Fang's license for the junket, with questionable ties to organized crime and Australian criminal activities.
- The suit alleged Xiongming Xie's connections to organized crime, bans from every Australian casino, and significant gambling debts at the time.
- Previous press reports suggest Xie previously served as a deputy for junket operator and organized crime figure Tom Zhou.
- Xie himself faced Australian criminal charges in 2019, accused of attacking a man with a knife to demand the transfer of a A$10 million property.
- Ma, a Chinese high roller, visited SkyCity in 2019 in the company of a VIP hostess, during which he lost A$370K and won over A$5 million.
- When he requested to cash out, he encountered delays, as the transaction wouldn't be finalized until the following Monday.
- The lawsuit claimed that SkyCity transferred the chips to Xiongming Xie on May 29, who returned only A$1.46 million to Ma.
- Ma sued SkyCity for negligence and breach of trust, as well as Xiongming Xie and Zhuangqian Fang for fraud in relation to the missing millions.
- This week, SkyCity and Xiongming Xie agreed to a confidential settlement, with the specific terms undisclosed.
- South Australia's Supreme Court awarded a summary judgment against Zhuangqian Fang, who declined to participate in mediation, and the judgment remains in effect against Fang.
