Rival gamblers and syndicate members still complain that the Wu syndicate is using threats to scare them off. The former chef, known as Jacky, hands out the cash, organises the workers and uses a cellphone to record how much they have won and lost.
The syndicate head, Zhang Ping Wu, no longer goes inside the casino himself but has poached a former Sky City noodle bar chef to manage the operation for him. When workers are spotted by management and banned - in the past two months 20 people have been barred - the syndicate simply recruits replacements through Chinese newspapers. The Wu syndicate - one of a number believed to be operating at the casino - is recruiting Chinese workers and paying them a weekly wage to play the pokies.
By TONY WALL HERALD INVESTIGATION - An Asian slot Machine syndicate accused of using standover tactics to protect its turf at Sky City has become bigger and more organised as the casino enforces new regulations outlawing group play.