Freaky Fortnight – A Look at the Past Two Weeks of Absolute Madness from the Gambling World

We’re back!

And we’ve got some enjoyable, amusing and outrightly bizarre stories to let you in on. Over the past couple of weeks, some fantastic, entertaining moments have occurred in the gambling sector. A few were outrageous and downright weird too. These are the ones we’re interested in!

If that is something you can relate to, then Freaky Fortnight is the place for you. Here are a few incredible, amusing, odd, and wacky stories from the poker, casino and gambling realms during the first half of March.

Bellagio Casino Resumes Vegas Strip Fountain Following Loon Rescue

It’s not very often that the Las Vegas Strip’s famous fountain is switched off. Yet it became a necessity recently when a rare bird paid a visit to Sin City. The Bellagio Casino is not only known for being one of the most entertaining casinos in Vegas. It also has a huge fountain outside, putting on a prominent water show daily.

However, earlier this month, wildlife biologists were called to the fountain when a unique bird was spotted swimming in it. The yellow-billed loon is an international species of concern, considered one of the 10 rarest birds in the world to breed on the U.S. mainland. It seems as though one slightly lost its way, attracting the attention of staff and guests at the Bellagio as it waded through the fountain.

The Bellagio and Its Iconic Fountains

Initially, fountain shows were called off so that officials could decide what to do and how to proceed. Concerned bird lovers turned to Nevada’s wildlife officials to intervene, according to the department spokesperson, Doug Nielsen. It was determined that the juvenile loon was likely seeking shelter from a storm passing over. Nielsen noted that it isn’t uncommon for migratory birds to pay a visit to the Vegas Valley.

First spotted on Tuesday, March 5, the bird caused an intervention, which occurred on the following day. The Nevada Department of Wildlife relocated the bird. It stated that the loon was unharmed and taken to an unspecified and remote location where it could resume its migration north.

The Bellagio was then able to resume its choreographed water show in the fountain that same afternoon.

What an extra bit of excitement for visitors to the Bellagio Casino though, right? The chance to see a rare bird just swimming around in the fountain outside the venue!

Man Fakes Own Kidnapping for Ransom to Pay Gambling Debts

If you’ve ever watched “Game of Thrones,” you’ll know the phrase, “A Lannister Always Pays His Debts.” In whatever way they’re able to do that, they will. And it seems as though this same philosophy was at play in the mind of one man in China recently.

Struggling with a gambling debt, Chinese resident Liu Changjian allegedly kidnapped himself and demanded a ransom from his aunt for his safe return. The deal offered to his aunt was for ¥30,000 (around $4,175), and came about as a plan that Liu conjured up while at the Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore.

Arriving in the country on March 1, the Chinese national was supposed to return to his homeland five days later. Instead, the 33-year-old opted to stay at the casino and started messaging his aunt back in China. Posing as a kidnapper, he went as far as sending her a photo of his travel documentation as a form of “proof” that the kidnappers had him.

She proceeded to inform Liu’s father about the incident who then went ahead with contacting the Singaporean police on March 9. An instant investigation by the Central Police Division sent officers on the hunt for Liu. Less than three hours after receiving the call from his father, they located him in the Marina Bay area. At the same time, they discovered he had a gambling debt of at least S$30,000 ($22,350). No “ransom money” exchanged hands between any parties.

Authorities charged the Chinese resident in court with a pre-trial conference to take place on March 25. He now faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a potential fine for his criminal activity. The Singaporean Police Force released a statement about how seriously it takes people knowingly taking part in scams. They also warned citizens to remain vigilant over strange calls and messages from unknown individuals.

Loan sharking is an illegal activity in Singapore. Yet some criminals believe themselves above the law and will often lend money to desperate gamblers. They then impose huge interest rates on the loan, which people invariably cannot pay back, resulting in even more desperation. Maybe Mr. Changjian experienced a similar scenario in the country.

Oddly enough, people opting to fake their own kidnapping is not hugely uncommon around the world. A woman in Spain conducted the same sort of setup in 2021. She convinced her husband to hand over €6,000 ($7,000) to pay a kidnapping ransom, which she then used to play bingo!

British Tourists in Thailand Warned Against Carrying 120 Playing Cards

Tourists in the United Kingdom have been sternly warned about a bizarre law at a popular vacation destination. In Thailand, it is illegal to carry 120 playing cards under the Playing Cards Act of 1943. The law states that it is illegal to possess more playing cards than that amount.

Private ownership of over 120 playing cards without the approval of the government can lead to arrest. That doesn’t stop illegal gambling from taking place in Bangkok and other provincial Thai towns though. It was only in late January that a police raid in Phuket caught a group of foreign nationals engaging in illegal poker gaming at a luxurious villa.

Yet the travel agency eShores, operating in the UK, highlighted the warning being handed out to tourists travelling there. Company Director Gavin Lapidus noted it as an important local law to be aware of while there. He said:

While some of the stranger laws around the world may seem odd to us, it’s crucial to check each destination before travelling.

Even though gambling is illegal in most forms in Thailand, this doesn’t stop it from happening underground. It makes up the equivalent of billions of dollars every year. When the 2014 World Cup occurred, Thai police made arrests of over 5,000 people who were involved in illegal sports betting activity. For the 2018 edition of the event, over 750 people were arrested for the same thing. This included the story of an Irish model who was taken into custody for the promotion of online gambling.

Jessie Vard had a legion of fans following her move to Bangkok. Originally born in Donegal, Ireland, the 19-year-old was one of 15 models named in warrants summoning them to appear in court. She and four others turned themselves in at the police station in Bangkok and confessed to violating anti-gambling laws.