Operator News
Singapore – Sands to investigate VIP wire transfers at Marina Bay Sands
By Phil - 30 March 2021
Las Vegas Sands is creating a committee to examine potential breaches of anti-money laundering standards at its Marina Bay Sands (MBS) property in Singapore.
Following claims last year from ex-customer Wang Xi that Marina Bay Sands transferred US$6.8m from his player account to other gamblers without his approval, Sands will be probing money transfers among high rollers and third parties at its casino. The complaint led to extra scrutiny from US Department of Justice and Singapore police
While such transfers are legal, the scrutiny suggested that several employees had hijacked the process to facilitate gambling. Customers would sign a blank authorisation form, then fill in the amount of the transfer and other details for subsequent wires. Photocopies of the same document was used several times to complete transfers. Marina Bay Sands has since tightened security but has now moved to create a three-man committee to review transfers between high rollers and third parties.
US law firm Vinson & Elkins will help with the review.
