Published on: May 8, 2026, 01:54h.

Updated on: May 8, 2026, 01:55h.

• Disbarred attorney files lawsuit against former staff, a casino, and banks, claiming ex-employee gambled misappropriated funds at a B.C. casino
• B.C. Supreme Court permits addition of BCLC and provincial government as defendants
• Trial scheduled for June 2027

A disbarred attorney in British Columbia has received approval to include the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and the B.C. government in her ongoing lawsuit spanning a decade over millions in allegedly misappropriated funds gambled at a provincial casino.

Unverified Sources of Funds

Hong Guo accused BCLC of failing to prevent Danica Qian Pan, an employee of her law firm whom she labeled a “compulsive” gambler, from gambling $7.4 million from the firm’s trust account using forged checks—$5.7 million of which was wagered at Starlight Casino within weeks of the incident in 2016.

Guo is pursuing the recovery of these funds. Her law firm was disbanded in 2016.

As reported by the Vancouver Sun, Guo contended in B.C. Supreme Court that it was BCLC’s duty to notice discrepancies surrounding Pan’s funding, revealing that she was gambling with unverified money and exhibiting compulsive behavior that went unchecked.

A Decade in Litigation

In her court application to include BCLC as a defendant, details surfaced indicating that BCLC did conduct an interview with Pan but was convinced that her funding originated from her parents. Guo argued that BCLC should have pursued a more thorough investigation.

A justice of the B.C. Supreme Court ruled in her favor, leading to BCLC and the government being added as parties in the case.

In 2016, Guo initiated legal action against Pan and four other parties, including a bookkeeper, BMO, and CIBC, as well as Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, the operator of Starlight, asserting they were liable for her firm’s financial losses.

Inclusion of BCLC in the Lawsuit

Guo claimed that individuals involved still possess some of the millions that were misappropriated. She alleged that the funds were laundered through the casino and later sent back to China. Guo stated that she collaborated with Chinese authorities, resulting in sentences for Pan and the former bookkeeper in China.

The Vancouver Sun reported that Guo contended that BCLC and the provincial government effectively became “constructive” trustees of the misappropriated trust funds by knowing they had accepted and maintained dubious money.

Starlight Casino’s Role

In 2024, Guo was disbarred for a third time by the Law Society of B.C., deemed “ungovernable” due to allegations of professional misconduct, failure to implement adequate accounting practices, misrepresentations, and improper supervision of staff.

The B.C. Supreme Court also mandated that Guo and Guo Law Corp. post a security deposit of $150,000 within 30 days. Should this requirement remain unmet, the defendants can seek dismissal of the action.

Casino.org reached out for comments from BCLC but received notice that they could not provide statements as the case remains active in the courts. The trial is slated for June 2027.