Macau casino concessionaires have filed legal compensation claims against Levo Chan, former CEO of junket operator Tak Chun Group, and several other defendants in connection with the case, which Macau’s Public Prosecution Office initiated at the beginning of August.
Four Macau Casino Concessionaires Seek Compensation Totaling $16.8 million
GGRAsia reported that Wynn Resorts (Macau), SJM Resorts, Venetian Macau, and MGM Grand Paradise have submitted claims against Levo Chan and a few other defendants amounting to MOP 135 million ($16.8 million).
The Macau casino concessionaires are seeking compensation for damages suffered as a result of the under-the-table betting activities executed by Chan and his company, which have been revealed during the investigation that led to Chan’s arrest in January and the criminal charges pressed against him and eight other defendants.
The criminal charges and following court proceedings are separate from the legal claims for compensation filed by the four Macau casino concessionaires.
The Four Macau Concessionaires Have Filed for Different Compensation
Wynn Resorts (Macau) is seeking compensation of MOP 48.3 million ($6.0 million). SJM Resorts has filed a claim for MOP 35.65 million ($4.4 million), while Venetian Macau wants to get MOP 47 million ($5.9 million).
MGM Grand Paradise has filed compensation claims of MOP 3.83 million ($477,000) not only against Chan but also against Companhia de Promoção de Jogos Tak Chun SA, and Grupo Levo Lda.
Companhia de Promoção de Jogos Tak Chun SA is another junket operator, while Grupo Levo Lda is a company founded by Levo Chan. According to the investigation, the company was started by Chan to facilitate proxy betting operations and avoid any association with Tak Chun Group in case of any criminal investigations.
The Macau SAR Government has also submitted a claim against the 9 defendants in the case. On its part, it is seeking compensation of MOP 575 million ($73.9 million).
Chan Was Arrested in January This Year
Charges were pressed officially against Levo Chan and eight other defendants back on August 5, 2022, but the legal proceedings only started on December 5. Chan is the only defendant in the case who is imprisoned.
Chan’s January arrest followed Suncity group’s former CEO Alvin Chau’s arrest in December 2021, and a continued investigation into the activities of his company Tak Chun Group. Tak Chun Group was the second biggest junket operator in Macau after Suncity Group as per market share.
Following the investigations in connection with the Suncity Group case, the Macau police revealed that although Suncity Group and Tak Chun Group operated side-betting activities separately via different groups of people they still worked together.