Australia: Singaporean businessman ordered to pay $25M in gambling debt to The Star Gold Coast casino

A Singaporean businessman has been ordered by an Australian court to pay more than A$38 million ($25.3 million) to a Gold Coast casino after accumulating significant gambling debts in 2018.

Wong Yew Choy, a businessman from Singapore, lost A$47.3 million over a few days playing baccarat at The Star Gold Coast casino in Queensland in July 2018, court documents revealed. After rebates and allowances, his losses were reduced to A$43.2 million. However, Wong left Australia without settling the debt, a move the court said was "not unusual."

The casino attempted to recover the debt by cashing a blank cheque Wong had provided on a previous visit to The Star Sydney, but the cheque bounced after Wong instructed his bank not to honor any payments from The Star Gold Coast.

Wong Yew Choy

Wong claimed he had a verbal agreement with the casino's chief operating officer, Paul Arbuckle, that he would not be required to pay for any losses incurred up to July 2018. He also cited issues with the way the casino dealt cards during his gambling sessions.

The Supreme Court in Brisbane rejected Wong’s defense, ruling that there was no evidence to support the alleged agreement with Arbuckle. Judge Melanie Hindman stated: "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."

Hindman further noted discrepancies between Wong’s claims and his oral testimony during the trial, adding: "The alleged agreement pleaded by Dr Wong is materially different to the evidence he gave orally at trial."

The court ruled in favor of The Star Gold Coast, ordering Wong to pay A$38.6 million plus interest and legal costs. "The plaintiff has made out its loan claim, and the defendant has not made out any defense to that claim," Hindman concluded.