Illegal Baccarat Den Uncovered by Police in Mong Kok
It is always recommended to play online baccarat at reputable, trustworthy online casinos, and the same is true when playing baccarat at land casinos. As a case in point, as part of its targeted crackdown on illegal gambling in Hong Kong, the Mong Kok District Special Duty Squad launched an operation last month, codenamed “FULLBOOM”, and raided a suspected illicit baccarat venue located on Sai Yeung Choi Street South.
The Mong Kok baccarat gambling den raid led to the arrest of 15 people. Among them were three women, aged between 58 and 64, believed to be the operators of the establishment. They were taken into custody on suspicion of “managing a gambling establishment” and “assisting in operating a gambling establishment”. Each of them now faces a charge for both offenses.
Additionally, three men and five women, aged 26 to 62, were apprehended on suspicion of “gambling in a gambling establishment”. They have all been formally charged with the same and are scheduled to appear in West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.
Four more people, one man and three women, ranging in age from 20 to 62, were also arrested for allegedly gambling at the site. They have been released on bail, pending further investigation, and must report back to the police this month.
Authorities seized a range of gambling equipment during the operation, including two baccarat tables, chips estimated to be worth around HK$30,000, HK$40,000 in cash, and various other items.
Hong Kong’s Gambling Laws
Operating or playing at an illegal gambling establishment is a serious crime under Chapter 148 of the Hong Kong Gambling Ordinance. Those found guilty of running such establishments face up to seven years in prison and a HK$5 million fine, and those caught gambling at these venues risk penalties of up to nine months’ imprisonment and a HK$30,000 fine.
The recent baccarat raid is part of a broader effort by Mong Kok police to curb illegal gambling and vice-related crimes in the district. A few days after Operation FULLBOOM, the police launched another raid under the codename “LEVINGTON”, which targeted further entertainment venues.
This follow-up operation saw criminal investigation teams, miscellaneous investigation officers, and police dog units conducting surprise checks across 14 locations, including bars, nightclubs, billiard halls, and mahjong parlors.
During the operation, authorities uncovered another illegal gambling den, this time involving fishing arcade gaming machines, inside a commercial building on Sai Yeung Choi Street South, the same road as the earlier baccarat bust.
A 50-year-old man surnamed Kan was arrested on suspicion of “managing gambling establishments”, and a 49-year-old local woman was detained for allegedly “gambling in a gambling establishment”. Police seized two fishing game machines as evidence. Both suspects have been formally charged and are expected to appear before the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.
Hong Kong police have said that the operations are part of a coordinated district-wide initiative to disrupt illegal gambling networks operating under the guise of amusement arcades and private clubs.
Pattern of Illegal Gambling in Mong Kok
It appears that there is a trend of illegal baccarat activity in Mong Kok, an urban area known for its nightlife and entertainment scene. In a case from last year, police arrested 24 individuals during raids on two underground casinos also located in Mong Kok. Those operations uncovered poker and mahjong tables, chips worth over HK$1 million, and large amounts of cash.
In that case, police noted that the gambling dens were highly organized, with separate staff assigned to security, chip handling, and game management. Officers also reported that some of the locations had been outfitted with surveillance systems to detect potential raids.
If you are headed to Hong Kong, then there are plenty of ways to enjoy baccarat legally, including special casino cruise trips, and of course, Macau is not very far away.
