Chinese High Roller's Dicey Adventure: Casino Settlement Over Millions in Missing Winnings
Gambler of Chinese Origin Resolves Dispute with SkyCity Casino and Associated Junket Operators Over Alleged Unreturned $4.84 Million Gambling Winnings
Naive naivety served as no match for the cutthroat world of high-stakes gambling, as Chinese millionaire Linong Ma found himself in a tangled web of alleged fraud and organized crime, leaving him millions in the hole.
Last Tango in Adelaide, May 2025:
- Linong Ma, a multimillionaire from Hong Kong and Shanxi province, China, takes on the Aussie casino scene, accompanied by a jet-setting junket VIP hostess known as "Ms. Goh."
- A gambling junket arranged by Zhuangqian Fang, an alleged associates of convicted criminal Tom Zhou, spirals into chaos.
A Game of Cops, Lawyers, and Chips:
- In May 2021, Linong Ma brought a lawsuit against Sky City Adelaide, Xiongming Xie, and Zhuangqian Fang, alleging that he was swindled out of millions in winnings.
- Sydney-based Xie, rumored to have links with criminal underworld and banned from every Australian casino, used Fang's license to run the junket.
- Tom Zhou, a notorious organized crime figure, was connected to money laundering, foreign influence operations, extortion, and human trafficking.
A Brush with Violence and Sordid Deals:
- Xie faced criminal charges in Australia in 2019 over allegations he attacked a man with a knife, demanding the transfer of a A$10 million property.
- Ma's lawsuit claimed the victim was "stabbed ... almost to death."
From a High Streak to Empty Pockets:
- After a series of hot ranches and cold showers, Ma found himself face-to-face in a heated game of baccarat, losing A$370,000 and then winning an additional A$5,000,000.
- His intention to cash out his winnings was foiled by a mysterious hand at SkyCity, who illegally transferred his chips to Xie.
- On May 29, Xie pocketed A$1.46 million and left Ma dangling, hungrily eyeing the missing millions.
The Dark Side of Lady Luck:
- In the courtroom drama that ensued, criminal charges against Xie and a lawsuit against Xie, Fang, and SkyCity were filed.
- After a series of heated courtroom battles and intense negotiations, SkyCity and Xie settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
- South Australia's Supreme Court awarded a summary judgment against Fang, as he did not participate in mediation.
The dizzying highs and harrowing lows of the casino floor have painted a vivid picture of deceit, greed, and vicious competition. As the dust settles, one can't help but wonder what forces will send the next high roller tumbling into the hands of fate.
- Linong Ma, a multimillionaire from Hong Kong and Shanxi province, China, entered the Australian casino scene, partnered with a jet-setting junket VIP hostess called "Ms. Goh".
- In May 2021, Linong Ma brought a lawsuit against Sky City Adelaide, Xiongming Xie, and Zhuangqian Fang, accusing them of swindling him out of millions in winnings.
- Xiongming Xie, a Sydney-based casino operator with rumored links to the criminal underworld and banned from every Australian casino, is at the heart of the allegations.
- Tom Zhou, a notorious organized crime figure, was connected to money laundering, foreign influence operations, extortion, and human trafficking, and is believed to be an associate of Zhuangqian Fang.
- Xie faced criminal charges in Australia in 2019 over allegations he attacked a man with a knife, demanding the transfer of a A$10 million property.
- Ma's lawsuit claimed the victim was "stabbed ... almost to death."
- After a series of hot streaks and cold showers, Ma found himself winning A$5,000,000 in a game of baccarat, only to see those winnings disappear illegally.
- On May 29, Xie pocketed A$1.46 million and left Ma dangling, hungrily eyeing the missing millions from the casino games he won.
- The negligence of casino operators and the actions of individuals like Xiongming Xie have raised concerns about the Australian casino industry and the safety of casino-and-gambling activities.
- The courtroom drama that ensued included criminal charges against Xie and a lawsuit against Xie, Fang, and SkyCity, highlighting the seedy underbelly of the casino-personalities and gambling-trends.
- After a series of heated courtroom battles and intense negotiations, SkyCity and Xie settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, leaving questions about Xiongming Xie's worth and the impact of the lawsuit on the casino-gambling industry.
- As the dust settles, the dark side of Lady Luck continues to cast a long shadow over the world of high-stakes gambling, with the looming danger of car-accidents, crime-and-justice, and accidents like fires from casino-and-gambling establishments always a concern, along with the importance of responsible-gambling.
