Recently, a shocking rumor swept the internet: a top male celebrity was rumored to have gambled in a Macau casino for seven days, ultimately losing one billion in cash. This news quickly fermented, sparking heated discussions and even affecting the public image of the star.
Eventually, authoritative figures stepped forward, identified the rumor-monger, and subjected them to legal sanctions. Such rumors spread quickly not only because of the public's curiosity about celebrities' private lives but also because of the frequent scandals involving gambling and money laundering in the entertainment industry in recent years.
Today, we will not discuss the private lives of celebrities, but focus on a more worthy issue: the intricate connections between casinos, the entertainment industry, and capital operations. Casinos are not only centers of wealth circulation but may also be key nodes for money laundering. Keywords: Macau casinos, movie queens, tycoons, resource exchange. Are you ready? Please take your seats in the front row.
Why are there no stars in Macau?
Have you ever wondered why Hong Kong and Taiwan are teeming with stars, while Macau rarely produces entertainment giants? The editor, with this question in mind, consulted a large amount of data and finally discovered a shocking reality—in Macau, being a star is nowhere near as lucrative as running a casino.
Many stars are keen on the poker table, even becoming habitual gamblers. Wang Feng loves baccarat and participates in the Macau Poker King tournament annually, meeting Zhang Ziyi's mother at the gambling table.
Jay Chou once lost nearly ten million yuan in just two days at the Marina Bay Sands casino, without frowning. Jackie Chan, in his youth, gambled away all his savings and even briefly considered suicide. He Jiaju, one of Hong Kong's "Four Great Villains," once lost 20 million in three days, leaving only a few hundred in his account after his death.
These astonishing figures reveal a fact: the profits from casinos far exceed those from the entertainment industry. And what kind of situation arises when stars collude with casino capital?
Movie queens, tycoons, and the clouds of money laundering
In May 2020, the financial statements of a cultural company showed that a young movie queen earned up to 100 million yuan for a single film, immediately causing a public uproar and suspicions of money laundering behind it. Subsequently, the company updated its financial statements, stating "accounting errors," adjusting the movie queen's remuneration to about 30 million, and adding three previously undisclosed associated companies.
At the same time, Zhou Chouhua (also known as "Washing Rice Hua"), president of the Macau Suncity Group, was implicated in a money laundering case, and his investments in film projects like "Operation Red Sea," "Chasing the Dragon," and "Love in a Puff" were also questioned. The rapid rise of several young directors under Suncity further fueled speculation. Amidst unresolved doubts, the young movie queen suddenly terminated her contract with her agency, and the three newly added companies in the cultural company's financial report were also simultaneously deregistered.
A series of abnormal operations led to speculation: has casino capital infiltrated the entertainment industry?
Facing various doubts, Washing Rice Hua quickly issued a statement, insisting that Suncity was "operating well, with sufficient funds on the books, law-abiding management, and never leaving Macau." The original agency of the movie queen also issued a statement, denouncing external speculations. However, just a year later, Washing Rice Hua was arrested for illegal gambling and money laundering, revealing a series of shocking insider stories.
The dark game of casinos
Casinos are undoubtedly havens for money laundering. Taking Macau casinos as an example, high rollers can directly exchange large amounts of chips for betting, and profits can be easily withdrawn through legitimate checks issued by gambling companies, forming a source of "legal income."
In this process, "chip rollers" play a key role. They are responsible for attracting high-stakes gamblers and providing financial channels. For instance, in the early 2000s, Macau casino tycoon Zhang Zhentai collaborated with "King of Chip Rollers" Lian Chao to operate a luxury gambling ship "King of the Seas," specifically for top-tier high rollers. Lian Chao's clients included both business magnates and political figures.
In 2003, Lian Chao met China's then-richest man, an appliance tycoon named Huang. Each time Huang visited Macau, he could obtain up to 200 million Hong Kong dollars in credit chips, eventually losing over one billion. More shockingly, to repay his gambling debts, he privately purchased 700 million yuan in foreign exchange, ultimately being sentenced to 14 years for illegal operations and insider trading.
The case of Huang reveals a typical path of casino money laundering:
Using gambling to cover illegal fund movements—gamblers can exchange large amounts of chips at casinos, and the checks issued by gambling companies can serve as "legal income" certificates.
Using underground money changers for currency exchange—gambling funds flow out of the country through underground exchange systems and return to the domestic market in legal forms.
Using shell companies and film investments for "whitewashing"—through film investments and financing of entertainment companies, the funds appear to have a legitimate source.
The endgame of casino kings, movie queens, and tycoons
Following the case of Huang, the Macau casino circle entered a new stormy period. Zhang Zhentai was investigated for "involvement in a murder case" but was ultimately acquitted due to "insufficient evidence." However, his subordinates were sentenced for "planning a murder."
On the other hand, Washing Rice Hua, once one of Macau's most influential gambling tycoons, could not escape the law. In 2021, he was arrested for illegal gambling and money laundering, leading to the collapse of the Suncity empire. At the same time, other Macau VIP room tycoons, such as "Guangdong Club" Zhang Zhentai and "Prince Room" Chen Ronglian, also fell into crisis.
Meanwhile, a certain movie queen and wealthy businessman, once prominent figures in Macau casinos, also quietly exited the public eye. The film companies once used as tools for money laundering were quietly deregistered.
Conclusion: The gambling game never stops
Underneath the glitz and glamour of the casino world lies a vast and hidden black network. Stars, tycoons, and gambling companies are all pawns in this game. Some become overnight millionaires, some lose everything, some end up in prison, and some walk away unscathed.
As capital flows, who can truly remain unaffected?
