‘George’ Hua: The Star Casino baccarat dealer guilty of cheating scam

A Star Casino dealer’s get-rich-quick scam has been revealed in court as the 27-year-old told how he’d brought great shame on his family.

A casino dealer executed a $35,000 swindle on The Star Casino’s baccarat tables with the help of a friend.

However, Qiaozhi ‘George’ Hua, 27, eventually came unstuck and on Wednesday pleaded guilty to his role in the cheating scam which was brainstormed on his commute to work with his criminal accomplice.

‘George’ Hua outside Downing Centre Court. Picture: Joel Carrett

Court documents state how the baccarat croupier would peek at the first four cards to come out of the shoe (card dealing box), before revealing in Mandarin what they were going to be to his accomplice.

The accomplice, who was playing the card fame, would then lay down an opening $1000 bet each on the known result which ultimately netted a total profit of $25,150 across the 16 times the scam took place.

Hua and the patron would typically bet legally until the ‘shoe’ was empty, however on nine occasions the croupier paid out on losing hands. These actions put the casino a further $10,5000 out of pocket.

The court heard the scam was planned on his way to work. Picture: Joel Carrett

The police facts state how Hua confessed to handing over $500 to his accomplice before they would arrive at the casino, with that $500 to go towards the corrupted opening bet. The pair would later split the winnings down the middle.

In court on Wednesday, Hua’s lawyer said the case had attracted publicity and he had heard of his client’s plight on the car radio.

“This is a day of shame for this family, a day of ignominy,” he said. “It is a nightmare (Hua) has brought upon himself and his family.”

The court heard the married man had lost the lion’s share of his illegal earn on pokie machines at a hotel, but denied he had any gambling issues.

Magistrate Michael Allen suspected greed and the “pursuit of money” were the primary motivators behind the criminal scam.

“Disguised by the glitz and the glamour (of gambling) is this greed for money,” he said. “It is the business model that gambling exists on. You were always going to get caught.”

Hua was convicted of corrupting the betting outcome of event and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order.

He was ordered to pay compensation of $14,825 to The Star Casino, on top of the $3000 he returned the day of his arrest. The 27-year-old was also fined $2200.