HONG KONG – Former Macau junket tycoon Alvin Chau appeared in court in the world’s biggest gambling centre on Friday (Sept 2) to face more than 200 charges including illegal gambling activities, running a criminal syndicate, money laundering and fraud.

Chau, one of the city’s best-known public figures, stepped down as chairman of the Suncity junket in December 2021 after he was arrested by Macau police in November. The arrest came after the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou issued a warrant accusing Chau of operating gambling activities in the mainland.

Macau, a special Chinese administrative region, is the only place in the country where citizens are legally allowed to gamble in casinos. Junkets act as middlemen who help facilitate gambling for Chinese high-rollers in Macau, extending credit and also collecting on their debt on behalf of casino operators.