(AsiaGameHub) – Hong Kong’s Kowloon police have announced the arrest of eight individuals following a raid on an unlicensed fishing machine gambling den.
Seven of those taken into custody were customers, while the eighth was the den’s operator, according to the Hong Kong arm of Chinese media outlet On.
Fishing machine games are large console devices typically found in video game arcades. Players use virtual water cannons to target fish moving across the screen. Most games grant points for each fish hit, with shots at extremely rare fish earning additional points.
These games are extremely popular in both Mainland China and Hong Kong. However, in recent years, gambling den operators have started providing secret gaming sessions in unauthorized temporary arcades.
Operators of such dens usually offer cash rewards to players who score high points.
Hong Kong Police: Raid on Fishing Game Gambling Den
Authorities in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po District stated they acted on a tip from a member of the public.
Following a thorough investigation, officers raided a commercial space on Cheung Sha Wan Road on the afternoon of April 9.
Officers seized five fishing game machines, along with gambling-related items and an unspecified sum of cash.
Police have identified the suspected operator of the gambling den as a 54-year-old Hong Kong man with the surname Chan.
The suspected patrons consisted of one man from Mainland China, five Hong Kong men, and one Hong Kong woman. The oldest among those arrested was in his early 70s.
If found guilty, Chen faces a maximum fine of HKD 5 million (around $640,000) and a seven-year jail term.
Patrons found guilty could be fined up to HKD 50,000 ($6,400) and sentenced to up to nine months in jail.
Earlier this year, Macao police arrested a self-proclaimed gambling expert on fraud charges.The man, a native of a Mainland Chinese city,is said to have borrowed money from a female client.After losing the funds at two Macao casinos, he attempted to escape and was apprehended at a border crossing.
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