Hieu Duc Lam, a former baccarat dealer at The Star Sydney, was captured on CCTV footage colluding with another employee and a patron in August 2020. He was caught looking at and memorising cards to be used in an upcoming game, before using a secure phone messaging app to inform a player in the scheduled game of their order.

The scam netted AU$467,700 in less than a month, with Lam sacked by the company and pleading guilty to 15 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court in January. The Star self-reported the misconduct.

The former baccarat dealer has been sentenced to two years’ jail time - which is to be served through intensive correction order - as well as 250 hours of community service.

“A casino special employee is licensed to supervise and facilitate gaming activities,” said Philip Crawford, Chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA). “Their role is to help safeguard the integrity of casino operations from criminal influence, serious misconduct or exploitation, and a special degree of trust is placed in them.

“This case demonstrates a clear breach of that trust.”