In a rare win for embattled Star Entertainment Group, the Supreme Court in Brisbane has ordered a Singapore man who notched gambling debts of more than AU$38 million (US$25 million) at The Star Gold Coast to pay what he owes.
According to a report by ABC News, Justice Melanie Hindman rejected claims by Dr Yew Choy Wong that Star had agreed not to pursue the debt due to mistakes made by a baccarat dealer during some of his sessions. Star had also denied any such agreement was made.
The landmark decision comes after Star had previously failed to have the debt enforced in Singapore, with the Singapore International Commercial Court ruling in 2020 that the nation’s Civil Law Act specifically denies the enforcement of gambling debts accrued in foreign jurisdictions. The Queensland Supreme Court later granted Star leave to purse a damages claim against Dr Wong, despite his objections that allowing the claim to proceed was an abuse of process.
The case, previously described as the largest casino debt case ever filed with a Singapore court, relates to a dispute over money Dr Wong lost on the VIP tables at The Star Gold Coast in 2018.
Dr Wong alleged that a senior casino executive, Paul Arbuckle, promised he would not be liable for his losses up until 29 July 2018 due to mistakes made by a baccarat dealer, nor would he be liable for any future losses if further mistakes were made. When another mistake was made on 1 August, Wong immediately stopped playing, he claimed.
Also in dispute was the nature of The Star Gold Coast’s loan to Wong. According to Star Entertainment Group, Wong requested and was given a check cashing facility for AU$40 million, which was later increased by another AU$10 million. Wong said he did not make any such request and was instead offered the AU$40 million credit directly.
Star Entertainment Group was given a blank check by Dr Wong which the company later filled out, only to find that he had cancelled the check upon his return to Singapore.
As reported by ABC News, in reaching her ruling Justice Hindman noted that a letter sent by Star to Dr Wong at the time apologizing for not following his preferences at the baccarat table made no mention of forgiving the accrued debt. Dr Wong’s claim, therefore, “is not evidenced by the letter or otherwise supported by any other evidence adduced in trial.
“The Star Gold Coast has made out its claim for recovery of the … moneys as loans, and Dr Wong has not made out any pleaded defence to that claim,” she wrote. “I will enter judgment for The Star Coast with interest and costs,” she said.
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