On 13/4, the Criminal Police Department of Da Nang City Police announced the arrest of Chang Heng Kit (38), Lei Wai Nga (37, both Chinese nationals), and Dinh Van Hung (30, from Quang Ninh province). They are being investigated for allegedly organizing gambling in the form of a poker tournament.

The three suspects, Chang Heng Kit, Lei Wai Nga, and Dinh Van Hung, are currently detained. *Photo: Thanh Huynh*

Investigations revealed that the group exploited the name of the Bridge & Poker Sports Club at the 5-star Wyndham Soleil hotel (Vo Nguyen Giap street, An Hai ward, Da Nang City) to organize disguised "training" poker tournaments. Players were required to purchase tickets priced at 3 to 3,4 million VND per entry.

To evade authorities, the group did not pay winnings directly in cash. Instead, prizes were converted into items like phones or hotel vouchers, which were then exchanged for cash through the cashier department. The operation was tightly organized, involving many foreign nationals, with roles assigned from management and cashiers to dealers and tournament coordinators.

After a period of evidence gathering, on 10/4, the Criminal Police Department, in coordination with An Hai Ward Police, mobilized 60 officers to dismantle the den. During the inspection, police discovered 86 people gambling at 13 poker tables. On that day alone, the total amount spent by players on tickets exceeded 637 million VND.

At the scene, authorities seized 21 poker tables, a professional management computer system, and over 100 mobile phones. Police identified this as a sophisticated gambling operation with foreign involvement, camouflaged as a sports activity to attract players and large sums of money.

The gambling den at the time of the police inspection. *Photo: Thanh Huynh*

The case is currently under further investigation.

Ngoc Truong