Malaysian high stakes poker player involved in illegal gambling operations

Paul Phua Wei-seng does not seem to be the millionaire who made his fortune by playing poker as the unpleasant events from 2004 are coming back to the light with the US Court delaying the trials. The 50 years old poker player is part of one of the biggest illegal gambling operations in the history. Paul Phua and seven people more are facing sentences for illegal soccer gambling operations in the US. The organization under Paul Phua, his son Darren and poker player Richard Wong, was placing online soccer bets from one of the Caesars’ luxury villas where they created an online hub for the World Cup. The case is one of the biggest ever as Malaysia’s government has spoken out for the poker player. The Phua case is actually receiving too much exposure in the country as Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, decided to write a letter to Deputy Director of the FBI, Mark Giuliano, against the allegations that Phua is part of the 14K Triads. The Malaysian government seems to be quite confused as they do not condemn Phua’s actions but, at the same time, they did ban him from entering the country after being convicted with illegal sports betting operations. The government of Malaysia has also confirmed that Phua has been involved in the country’s affairs and that is why Phua’s arrests for illegal gambling operations and the whole case are not really making any sense.

The poker player was first arrested in the luxurious village of Las Vegas Caesar’s Palace, to be, weeks ago, arrested again in Macau for illegal sports betting operations. Now, Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister decided to withdraw the letter from the case. Moreover, the FBI continues believing that Phua is attached to the 14K Triads. Prosecutors also believe that Phua bribed Macau’s authorities to be released and that the authorities helped him catching a plane to Las Vegas. The Poker community in the US is going through difficult times since the Federal Government does not seem to help with the developing of a federal poker networks, but events like this one are telling us that players from other countries are not trying to help either. Asia is one of the most dangerous markets; there is no hardly regulation in any of the countries from that continent, but the most popular high stakes players seem to come from there. FBI already got a glimpse to what is going on with poker tournaments and events all around the globe and is trying to prevent the same in the United States. Phau’s case is one of the main reasons why international markets like the ones from Asia should really think of applying some regulations. The defense team states that the evidences were obtained illegally violating the Fourth Amendment rights what has delayed the trial.