Gambler’s Unlucky Hand

Sun, Apr 17, 2016

A Malaysian gambler who reportedly owns assets in Western Australia tried to use that tie to get off the hook for more than SGD620,000 (US$460,000) in gambling debts in Singapore. An Aussie court said its ban on credit-based wagering does not apply across international borders.

A gambler in hock to Resorts World Sentosa claimed he should not have to pay his debts because of his ties to Western Australia, which bans credit-based wagering. The Supreme Court of Australia dismissed the move, saying that laws in Australia are not binding “universally,” according to GGRAsia, and Western Australia law does not “in any way” undermine the judgment obtained in Singapore.

The gambler in question, Lim Soo Kok, is not Australian, but Malaysian, but happens to own some assets in the Land Down Under. He attempted the tricky legal maneuver after racking up gambling debts of SGD620,000 (US$460,000) at Resorts World Sentosa, a Singapore casino operated by Genting Singapore Plc.

He lost the money during a four-month period prior to March 2013, reported the Straits Times.

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