Illegal wagerer looming around at Caesars Palace

Eight people from Malaysia, China and Hong Kong were accused Monday of operating a temporary, illegal gambling ring from exclusive high-roller villas at a Las Vegas Strip resort that investigators said logged millions of dollars in bets on FIFA World Cup soccer games.

Wei Seng Phua, 50, a suspected organized crime member, and the others were named in a criminal complaint detailing the scheme to take bets over WiFi and DSL lines they had casino employees install in their suites at Caesars Palace.

Full news story could be found here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/accused-illegal-world-cup-betting-vegas-24559898.

Anyone staying at Ceasars Palace when this incident happened?

 

WOW! That is crazy...

 

That many people bet on soccer? LOL

 

Brazil and Argentina were the Steve Stevens picks of the week!

 

Seems pretty bold (and stupid) to set this up in your suite.

 

It sounds like they were only doing online wagering, so not really a bad idea:
- they rent the rooms for a couple of weeks
- everything they need is provided for them (rooms, furnishings, wifi, cable, etc) for just as long as they need
- they could have people placed in the casino or on the property to watch for any police or gaming officials moving in and alert the people in the room


For a temporary online betting setup the other alternatives would have been to rent a house or a business front, both of which would have probably required a few months rent up front and taken time to have the necessities (internet, electricity, water, cable tv) hooked up.

If the hotel staff didn't get suspicious they probably could have gone in there, stayed at Caesars for 2-3 weeks, had everything they needed all ready to go and then when the world cup is over just pack up and move on in a short amount of time.

 

Wouldn't it have been better if they took the bets online and had a runner go down to the sports book and place the bets for them... minus a fee and maybe an inflated vig of course

 

I read an article tht blamed the recent slowdown in Macau on gamblers spending their money on soccer bets rather than the tables! Crazy

 

The article says,"a criminal complaint detailing the scheme to take bets over WiFi and DSL lines". Taking bets? Acting as a Bookie?
I don't see where they were doing online wagering.

 

Biggest gambling market in the world, but keep laughing it up...

 

betting on Tennis also draws huge volume

 

in 2010 700 million people watched the world cup final
the number is expected in increase for 2014 (I haven't seen any numbers for that)

The most valuable teams in the world are "soccer" clubs
more countries are affiliated with FIFA than the UN.
its estimated that the FA cup final get 400 to 500 million viewers. and you probably have never heard of it.


your LOL is sounding very parochial and quiet in your little back water.

 

Aw geez, I didn't mean to offend all of you Brits. In our country Soccer is still a distant 6th or 7th in interest sports wise. It was just a joke. I didn't mean to offend your sensibilities.

 

nah - I may have overreacted slightly... I've been dealing with slack jawed morons on my facebook page trying to claim its not mainstream.

I bought that attitude here and to you and I apologise.


btw - more people watched the us team than watched the NBA or NHL.

not sure where you get 6th or 7th. 5th at worse and rising fast...

I think MLS has a long way to go to be considered a top league - but the gap is closing all the time. Theres some good kids coming through. Shame beckham is getting involved though. a named owner is not what the league needs..