When the 2 casinos first opened, there were a few high profile cases of gamblers who lost huge amounts of money. The amounts were so huge that it led many to have the misconception this was a problem only for the rich. 2 years on, we now have the first gambling law suits against "regular" people. The amounts in MBS case range from $50,000 to $100,000. These amounts are very real amounts if you are small time player who frequent the casinos regularly.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120616-353317.html
SINGAPORE - Up to 20 more debt collection lawsuits have been brought in recent months by Marina Bay Sands (MBS) against mostly Malaysian gamblers, while three new cases totalling $5.9 million in claims were filed by Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) this past week.
To date, around 40 cases have been filed by Drew & Napier LLC, and another 30 by Harry Elias Partnership LLP, all on behalf of MBS. A total of eight debt collection lawsuits have been filed by Straits Law Practice LLC on behalf of RWS since March.
Between 15 and 20 new cases were filed in the High Court by MBS since late April, almost all of which were against gamblers from Malaysia who had failed to respond to the casino's letters of demand. MBS is suing each of them for sums ranging from
$50,000 to $100,000.
Typically, court cases seeking damages of $250,000 or less are filed in the Subordinate Courts. Although the amount of damages sought in the new cases are below that level, they were filed in the High Court because judgments obtained from that court are enforceable in courts in Malaysia.
MBS, represented by Kelvin Tan, Natasha Sulaiman and Lin Yuankai of Drew & Napier, have also obtained two more default judgments: one for $1.86 million plus interest and costs against Malaysian Chock Kok Sui; and another for $247,500 plus interest and costs against Heng Sia Wan, also a Malaysian. Earlier, it had obtained a $2 million judgment against Singapore-based Japanese businessman Takami Shinichi.
Indonesian Husni Muchtar, who owed $920,521 to MBS, was ordered last month by the High Court to provide a banker's guarantee by June 18 or face summary judgment on his gambling debt.
MBS, which is also represented by Toh Wei Yi and S Suressh of Harry Elias Partnership LLP, sought summary judgment on grounds that Mr Muchtar has no real or valid defence against its claim.
Both parties have since appealed the High Court order.
Meanwhile, one of RWS's latest cases involves Singaporean Lee Chong Hock, who is being sued in the Subordinate Courts for defaulting on a $194,861 gambling debt.
Lee was also sued by MBS, which in February obtained its first default judgment in court for $99,000 against him.
According to papers filed this week in the High Court by N Sreenivasan and Shankar Angammah Sevasamy of Straits Law, Peter Ong, a Singaporean PR and Hong Kong citizen, and Fong Leong Khai, a Malaysian, are accused of defaulting on $4.72 million and $977,208 in gambling debts respectively.
Ong, also known as Pei Tung Ong, a premium player, had applied for a $500,000 credit line on Sept 8, 2011, which was increased to $4 million on Dec 20, 2011, and then to $7 million one day later.
By Dec 21, 2011, Ong had gambled away $5 million. After a $275,639 discount for commission and his deposit with RWS was offset against his credit line, he still owed $4.72 million. RWS filed suit after he failed to respond to its letters of demand.
In Fong's case, he was issued a $200,000 credit line on April 20, 2010, which was increased to $500,000 on June 17, 2010, and then to $1 million on July 1, 2010.
By Aug 22, 2011, he had gambled away $1 million. After a $22,792 discount for commission and his deposit was offset against his credit line, he still owed $977,208. But he allegedly failed to respond to RWS's letters of demand.
In March, RWS filed five suits against three Malaysians, one Hong Kong SAR resident and one Singaporean to collect nearly $8.5 million in unpaid gambling debts.
The casino obtained a $1.68 million default judgment in April against Singaporean Phuah Hock Guan after he failed to file a defence. Just weeks after he was sued, Phuah filed for bankruptcy in what lawyers say is the first case of its kind here.
A glance at my Jan-Jun 2012 fact sheet now: 
