Chinese High Roller Settles Lawsuit with SkyCity, Junkets Over Missing $4.84M

Posted on: May 9, 2025, 08:08h. 

Last updated on: May 9, 2025, 08:08h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Chinese high roller alleged junket fraud after winning millions
  • SkyCity and junket operator settled out of court this week
  • Casino transferred chips without authorization, lawsuit claimed

A Chinese high roller who sued Australia’s Sky City Adelaide and two junket operators in 2021 over the alleged misappropriation of around A$4.84 million (US$3.1 million) in casino winnings has settled out of court.

Linong Ma, SkyCity Adelaide, Xiongming Xie, Zhuangqian Fang, casino junket lawsuit, Chinese high roller Australia
Junket operator and gambler Xiongming Xie attends the opening of a Shaolin Kung Fu center in Sydney. Ma’s lawsuit accused him of being a dangerous criminal. (Image: Sing Tao Daily)

Multimillionaire Linong Ma, from Hong Kong and Shanxi province, China, brought legal action against the casino and junketers Xiongming Xie and Zhuangqian Fang. That was after a May 2019 gambling junket to SkyCity that had been arranged by Fang.

Sydney-based Xie ran the junket using China-based Fang’s license, according to the complaint.

Alleged Organized Crime Links

The lawsuit claimed that Xie has links to organized crime, was banned from every casino in Australia, and had “substantial gambling debts” at the time.

According to previous press reports, Xie is a former deputy of the junket operator and organized crime figure Tom Zhou, who Australian authorities have linked to money laundering, foreign influence operations, extortion, and human trafficking.

Xie faced criminal charges in Australia in 2019 over allegations he attacked a man with a knife while demanding the transfer of a A$10 million (US$7.75 million) property.

Ma’s lawsuit alleged the victim was “stabbed … almost to death.”

What Could Go Wrong?

Ma hit SkyCity on May 21 in the company of a junket VIP hostess referred to as “Ms. Goh” in court documents.

Chinese VIPs typically pay money to junkets via bank transfer prior to their trip. This gives them credit in the form of non-negotiable “rolling chips” at casino VIP rooms.

Ma initially “withdrew” A$400K (US$257K) in rolling chips from the junket to play baccarat. He promptly lost A$370K (US$238K), according to the lawsuit.

The next day, he reloaded with another A$600K (US$385K) worth of chips and went on a winning streak, amassing winnings of more than A$5 million (US$3.2 million) on top of his stake.

At this point, Ma wanted to cash out his chips, but he was told the transaction couldn’t be finalized until the following Monday, according to the lawsuit.

The businessman had to return to Hong Kong to attend his son’s graduation, so SkyCity employees placed the chips in a safety deposit box. Ma claims they told him only he could access the box.

Unauthorized Transfer

Ma planned to return to Adelaide, where he had business interests, a few weeks later when he would collect his winnings. But on May 29, someone at SkyCity transferred the chips to Xie, who returned only A$1.46 million to Ma, the lawsuit claimed.

Ma sued Sky City for negligence and breach of trust and Xie and Fang for fraud in relation to the missing millions.

SkyCity and Xie settled this week for a confidential amount, according to Adelaide Now. South Australia’s Supreme Court awarded a summary judgment against Fang who did not take part in mediation.