Part V: Regional & Cultural · Asia-Pacific Regional Terms

14K Triad

Macau — Organized CrimeVERIFIED

The 14K is one of the largest triad (Chinese organized crime) organizations in the world, founded in Guangzhou in 1945 and headquartered in Hong Kong. In Macau, the 14K was deeply involved in casino operations during the STDM monopoly era, controlling security, dispute resolution, bate-ficha networks, and debt collection within gambling halls. From 1996 to 1998 the 14K fought the rival Wo On Lok (Shui Fong) triad in a wave of killings and bombings that became known as Macau’s “triad wars.” The conflict stemmed from competition for control of casino VIP rooms and their lucrative revenue streams.

In practice

14K leader Wan Kuok-koi (“Broken Tooth”) was convicted in November 1999 and sentenced to 15 years in prison; he was released in December 2012. In 2020 the US Treasury sanctioned him and named the 14K one of the largest Chinese organized crime groups in the world.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary, 1,090 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.