A group of four individuals from Illinois is facing charges in connection with a sophisticated baccarat scam that reportedly swindled the Wind Creek Bethlehem casino out of a staggering $300,000. The alleged scheme, involving six individuals in total, unfolded in the early hours of March 13, culminating in the detention of the four accused parties.

Illinois Group Employed Strategic Card Placement and Cellphone Tracking

According to court documents, Zu Lin, Yuhan Hu, Liping Zhou, and Zhencan Chen, all residents of Illinois, were apprehended by authorities following the departure of two other members of their group, Fuxiang Liu, and alleged ringleader Qingyong Zhang, reported local media outlet Lehigh Valley Live. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. at the Wind Creek Gaming Office.

Police reports suggest that the scam commenced shortly before 4 a.m. as the six individuals congregated at a reserved baccarat table on the casino floor. Qingyong Zhang, the purported mastermind, employed various techniques, including strategic card positioning and covert cell phone use, to track the order of cards as the deck was shuffled.

Subsequently, Zhang and Hu temporarily left the gaming area, reconvening at Hu’s hotel room before returning to the table to resume play. At approximately 5:10 a.m., Zhang allegedly signaled for the group to escalate their betting activity, prompting a series of lucrative wins over the ensuing half-hour.

Following their successful stint at the baccarat table, the group dispersed, with Zhang and Liu exiting the premises while the remaining four members engaged in other games within the casino. During interrogation, Hu disclosed that Zhang had compensated him with $5,000 for his participation, with all proceeds from the operation reportedly funneled to Zhang himself.

The Four Members of the Gourp Face Felony Charges

Further investigation revealed prior involvement in similar illicit gambling activities by Hu and Zhou in Illinois and Missouri, respectively. Consequently, the four apprehended individuals are facing felony charges of participation in a corrupt organization. While Lin, Hu, and Chen managed to post bail set at $100,000, Zhou remains in custody at Northampton County Prison.

Notably, the accused individuals, aged between 28 and 51, all hail from Chicago, with Lin being the exception, originating from Mount Vernon, Illinois. Legal representatives for the defendants have yet to provide comment on the matter, leaving lingering questions surrounding the intricate web of deception orchestrated within the confines of the Wind Creek Bethlehem casino.

Baccarat is seemingly a coveted mark for scammers. Recently authorities in Pennsylvania have been actively searching for Jianchu Liu, a 47-year-old Chinese national suspected of involvement in a professional cheating ring targeting baccarat games at casinos across the United States, including Mohegan Pennsylvania. 

Liu’s alleged sophisticated cheating method involved recording card sequences with his cellphone, prompting casino surveillance to identify him. Despite a warrant for his arrest on fraud-related charges, Liu remains at large, and authorities are seeking public assistance in locating him. This incident adds to a series of recent baccarat-related cheating scandals, including accusations against a Mohegan Sun dealer in January.

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Wind Creek Hospitality has overcome one of its biggest hurdles and has initial clearance to add Miami’s Magic City Casino to its expanding roster of gaming venues. The PCI (Poarch Creek Indian) Gaming subsidiary will operate the license through Gretna Racing, LLC.

Magic City is a local fixture grown from a parimutuel racetrack and owned by the Havenick family since the 1930s. Havenick’s West Flagler Associates (WFA) is the legal entity offering the property up for sale.

In early December, the Florida Gaming Control Commission put approval of the transfer of assets and license on the back burner so more information about the deal could be given to the public before making a decision.

Transfer was not without Opposition

Opposition came from a perennial anti-casino organization in Florida. Legal counsel for a major gaming tribe in Florida had also asked commissioners to move forward with caution. However, Magic City representatives noted that 3rd party interventional would not be lawful.

At the time. Commissioners noted there was nothing objectionable in the highly redacted application but that it may not meet the standards of Florida’s sunshine laws.

Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair & CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians said: “We are excited to grow our footprint in another major metropolitan area, this time in Miami, Florida.

“Our expansions in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now Florida provide us the ability to take care of and grow opportunities for our Tribe. We look forward to becoming a valued partner in the Miami community.”

Bryan’s references to Pennsylvania and Illinois included the former Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania which the firm purchased for $1.3b in 2019 before rebranding – and Wind Creek Chicago Southland, an under-construction 70,000 sq ft casino featuring 1,350 slot machines, 56 table games, entertainment, dining, and a 250+ room hotel,

Jay Dorris, CEO and President of Wind Creek added: “Southern Florida is a natural connection from our properties in Aruba & Curacao, our properties in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

“With close proximity to Miami International Airport, the location is fantastic for players from all Wind Creek properties, and gives Miami locals an easy way to experience the Wind Creek brand everywhere we operate,” Dorris noted.

A New and Vibrant Market

While stating that the purchase added to its footprint in a “new and vibrant market” they also said that no major changes should be expected at the Miami property in the immediate future, but migration to the operator’s rewards and loyalty programs should be completed before the end of the year.

Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe’s gaming facilities. The list includes Wind Creek Aruba, Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Curacao, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, as well as a racetrack in Alabama, a card room in Pensacola, and a barrel racing track with a card room in Gretna.

The company’s virtual casino is called Casinoverse. Developer Hyper Luminal describes it as “an interactable game world which brings the excitement and joy of Wind Creek casinos right to your pocket.”

Source: PCI GAMING AGREES TO ACQUIRE MAGIC CITY CASINO IN MIAMI, Wind Creek, February 8, 2023

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The announcement has come after the Florida Gaming Management Fee has given the inexperienced mild for the switch of all belongings and gaming licenses held by the on line casino’s present house owners to the authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The latter is the one Indian Tribe in Alabama acknowledged by the federal authorities. 

Extra Enlargement Alternatives 

In keeping with the newly inked settlement, Wind Creek Hospitality’s wholly-owned subsidiary Gretna Racing, LLC can be extending its presence in one other massive metropolitan space within the US by penetrating the Miami, Florida market with its land-based video games. 

Wind Creek guardian Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ chief govt officer and tribal Stephanie Bryan referred to as their growth in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Florida in current information will deliver the tribe extra development probabilities. Bryan additionally spoke about their pleasure to develop into a “valued accomplice within the Miami group.”

Due to the contemporary brick-and-mortar facility in Miami, Wind Creek Hospitality will benefit from the perks of becoming a member of a “new and vibrant market”.

What the Future Holds

The group that manages the tribe’s gaming services has introduced that it’s going to not disrupt operations at Magic Metropolis On line casino within the close to future. On the similar time, they introduced they’d make just a few modifications to the venue. Amongst them, is the inclusion of Magic Metropolis gamers within the Wind Creek Rewards and Categorical Provides loyalty applications by the top of the present 12 months.

As said by Wind Creek’s chief govt officer and president Jay Dorris, Southern Florida is of course related to their properties within the Florida Panhandle, Aruba & Curacao, and Alabama. Dorris added that the on line casino’s location subsequent to the Worldwide Airport in Miami turns it into a superb place for gamers in any respect Wind Creek properties. 

In the meanwhile, Wind Creek Hospitality is accountable for managing Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a 70,000-square-foot on line casino internet hosting 1,350 slot machines and 56 desk video games anticipated to draw 800 jobs within the south suburban space. 

The group additionally manages the Aruba, Bethlehem, Atmore, Curacao, Montgomery, and Wetumpka venues, together with Nevada’s Wa She Shu On line casino location, the racetracks in Florida, Alabama and Casinoverse, which is Wind Creek’s new fantasy gaming app.

The group that tries to show friends’ mundane lives right into a fantasy universe filled with video games and fascinating leisure inked a multi-year partnership with the Chicago Bulls, agreeing to provide the groups’ followers an enhanced expertise on the new East Hazel Crest & Homewood on line casino.

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