Fake $500 casino chip turns up at RWS
By Jessica Lim
A FAKE casino chip - reportedly with a value of $500 - has been detected in Resorts World Sentosa, the second such case that has come to light at a casino here.
RWS did not give details on when the cheating occurred, as investigations are under way.
'We are working with the police in investigations. RWS has in place measures to detect counterfeit chips and a robust security and surveillance system,' said a spokesman yesterday. The police have confirmed that a report was lodged on Jan 22.
Dealers The Straits Times spoke to said the fake chip was worth $500, and checks were made that day on other $500 chips.
Last year, in the first known case of bogus chips here, five Indian nationals were charged in court for exchanging fake $1,000 chips for ones of smaller amounts at Marina Bay Sands.
Analysts are not surprised that yet another attempt to fool the casinos has turned up. Dr Alan Soh, president of local casino school Agmi International, said such incidents are likely to happen 'many more times'.
'When there is big money involved, there will always be people who will try to beat the system. Many don't understand just how tight the security system in a casino is,' he said.
Casino chips, he said, are unique, making them difficult to replicate.
Mr Tony Compton, who lectures on casino management at Boston Business School here, said there are typically two ways in which such crimes are committed. It can involve just one person with one fake chip, buying him time to try to amass winnings on the premise that it takes a while for one bogus chip to be detected.
Another tactic is to flood the casino with people with fake chips.
'What these criminals do is use the chip to play, pick up the winnings and leave quickly,' said Mr Compton, noting that a fake chip in circulation is likely to be discovered within a day.
One RWS dealer in his late 20s said a meeting was held three days ago to emphasise the need for vigilance.
'They let us see the fake and the real chips, and both looked the same to me. But when you shine the UV (ultraviolet) light on it, the real chip looked brighter,' he said.
Analysts said dealers do not scan a chip put down on the table. It is not part of their procedure because a game is going on. They assume players have legal tender. Chips are only checked when players ask for them to be changed into smaller denominations. This is the norm in casinos worldwide.
If convicted of using the chips despite knowing they are fake, a person faces seven years in jail, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.
