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The main organiser, Stephen WONG, was fined $10,000 on 9 July 2025 and Qiaojun HUANG was also fined $10,000 while another man who was granted a spent conviction was fined $5,000, all for breaching the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987.

A fourth man charged in relation to this matter is subject to a separate prosecution which is currently before the Courts.

Mr WONG was separately charged with the unlawful possession of money by the WA Police Force (WAPF) and was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence.

The Court ordered that $24,615.50 in cash seized during the raid be forfeited. This is additional to a previous forfeiture order which brings the total of money surrendered from the raid to $128,615.50. Casino-style gaming chips, a baccarat table cover and playing cards were also confiscated.

The charges were the result of a raid carried out by investigators from the former Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, under the authority of the Gaming and Watering Commission (GWC), and the WAPF on a business premises where an illegal game of baccarat was being conducted.

Apart from the three people convicted and the one other person charged, six players were issued with infringement notices for wagering in an unlawful game. Three Crown Perth employees involved had their licences cancelled by the GWC.

Comments attributed to Lanie Chopping, Director General, Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS):

“This successful prosecution is a significant outcome for the Western Australian community as it sends a clear message to others who are involved in, or are contemplating being involved in, illegal gambling operations.

“Apart from the fines and criminal convictions, those taking part in underground gaming operations can also face the serious consequence of the money seized during these raids being forfeited to the State. In this case it was a substantial total amount of money, almost $130,000.

“People involved in illegal gaming who are employed in the casino industry face the added penalty of losing their licences and consequently their jobs, so should question whether it is worth taking the risk.”

Comments attributed to Gaming and Wagering Commission Chair Gary Dreibergs:

“These targeted, unlawful gaming events in the community, are not harmless social poker nights, they are well-organised and can attract money launderers and criminals.

“The GWC is committed to detecting and disrupting unlawful gaming activities in the community and bringing to justice those involved.

“Those who ignore WA’s gaming and wagering laws and conduct illegal gambling operations in the community are on notice that they will be apprehended, with perpetrators facing a real risk of receiving significant penalties, a criminal record, and in some cases, removal of licences to work in the industry.

“Gaming and wagering in WA must operate in a lawful and ethical way to ensure community can have confidence in the industry, and to minimise the harm caused by gambling.”

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