10-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean businessman has been dealt a significant legal blow after an Australian court ordered him to pay a staggering A$38 million (£19.5 million) to settle a gambling debt accrued at a Gold Coast casino. The ruling, handed down by Judge Melanie Hindman of the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Monday, marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle between the high-roller and The Star Gold Coast casino.
The businessman, identified as Dr Wong Yew Choy, found himself at the centre of this high-stakes dispute following a series of baccarat games at the Queensland casino in July 2018. Over the course of just a few days, Dr Wong amassed losses totalling A$47.3 million. Despite rebates and allowances reducing this figure to A$43.2 million, the debt remained astronomical.
In a move that raised eyebrows in the gambling world, Dr Wong departed Australia without settling his account. The casino, undeterred, attempted to recover the debt using a blank cheque provided by Dr Wong during a previous gambling excursion to The Star Sydney. However, this effort was thwarted when it emerged that Dr Wong had instructed his bank to dishonour any cheques drawn from his account by The Star Gold Coast.
The case took a contentious turn when Dr Wong refused to pay, citing an alleged verbal agreement with the casino’s chief operating officer, Paul Arbuckle. According to Dr Wong, this agreement absolved him of any obligation to pay for losses incurred up to July 2018. This claim was vehemently denied by Mr Arbuckle, and Judge Hindman found no evidence to support Dr Wong’s assertion.
“The alleged agreement pleaded by Dr Wong is not evidenced by the letter of apology or otherwise supported by any other evidence adduced in the trial,” Judge Hindman stated in her ruling. She further noted discrepancies between Dr Wong’s written plea and his oral testimony during the trial.
The legal saga had previously reached Singapore’s High Court in 2020, where it was dismissed due to unresolved factual issues. The recent ruling in Brisbane, however, appears to have brought the matter to a decisive conclusion.
Judge Hindman’s verdict was unequivocal: “The plaintiff has made out its loan claim, and the defendant has not made out any defence to that claim. I will enter judgment for the plaintiff with interest and costs.” In addition to the principal sum of A$38,659,853.22, Dr Wong has been ordered to pay interest dating back to September 2018 and cover the casino’s legal costs.
