Masseur jailed, fined for side bets at MBS casino
43-year-old Goh Boon Kwang pleaded guilty on Monday for arranging side bets at the Marina Bay Sands' casino. He was sentenced to six months' jail and fined $60,000.
The masseur, who used to operate a reflexology business, moonlighted as a bookmaker and arranged side bets for baccarat players. He earned about $5,000 to $6,000 between March and June, The Straits Times reported.
Goh and four accomplices operated at Paiza Diamond Club at MBS, an exclusive members' only area, where they offered "insurance bets" to gamblers.
According to ChannelNewsAsia, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ruth Wong said gamblers could unlawfully place side bets, or "insurance bets", to reduce the risk of losing their main bets with the casino.
The plan involved players placing bets opposite of what they had placed with the casino.
Based on court documents, Goh had spotted Lee Chin Chuan offering side bets in March this year and wanted to join in. Another three members were later roped in as runners and received $100 to $150 a day.
Goh would receive up to $200 per bet if a player who agreed to deal with them won but he would bear the cost if the player lost.
The masseur is the second of the five to be dealt with. Last month, 26-year-old Indonesian Ricki was sentenced to four months' jail and fined $50,000.
The other two alleged accomplices, Lee, the group's alleged leader, and runner Ang Keng Peng, have been charged and their cases are pending.
The fifth member of the group, an Indonesian known only as 'Rino' and 'Jackson', is still at large.
Goh, Lee and Ricki were arrested at the MBS casino in a raid on June 14.
