T
Taigong Wang
Guest
Jul 20, 2011
Insurance betting syndicate member jailed, fined
By Elizabeth Soh
The 26-year-old was one of a five-member syndicate who approached patrons at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino between April and June this year, offering them chances at making side bets on games going on there. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
AN INDONESIAN member of what is believed to be the first betting syndicate in a casino here was given a four-month jail term and fined $50,000 on Wednesday.
Odd-job labourer Ricki, who goes by only one name, pleaded guilty to two charges of bookmaking.
The 26-year-old was one of a five-member syndicate who approached patrons at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino between April and June this year, offering them chances at making side bets on games going on there.
These illegal side bets, called 'insurance bets' were made available in Paiza Room 801, where baccarat was the game of choice.
Their activities were caught on closed-circuit televisions in June by officers from the Casino Crime Investigation Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department. So far, three of the five members, including Ricki, have been arrested.
Items seized from them included more than $46,000 in casino chips, $78,000 in cash and a cheque for $100,000.
