Crime doesn’t pay at Singapore’s new integrated resort casinos, or so it seems, and retribution is swift. Of course it is impossible to know whether all attempts to cheat Resorts World Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands fail but in the time since the first casino opened its doors just over three months ago several people have been arrested, charged and sentenced. Within three days of the RWS launch, eight people were charged with various offences, including entering the casino without paying the S$100 fee, but the first case handled by the Criminal Investigation Department's Casino Crime Investigation Branch has already been resolved in court.

The first casino cheating conviction was handed out to a Chinese national on 19 April. Arrested on 28 March he was sentenced to 10 months in jail for placing a late bet at a Tai Sai table. However, he was not the first person arrested for cheating. This dubious honour fell to a cab driver who in February reportedly stole his brother’s driving licence to gain entry to the casino, as he was barred under Singapore rules, and placed a late bet at a baccarat table. He was given a 9-month jail sentence on 30 April.

Security cameras are deployed in their thousands around Singapore’s two casinos, making the possibility of escaping detection far from easy. At the beginning of April three Europeans, two Frenchmen and a Spaniard, were charged with trying to cheat RWS out of US$10,000 – again by the placing of late bets. A judge has now issued warrants for their arrest after they absconded on bail. Penalties for cheating in Singapore include up to 10 years in jail and a fine if convicted.

This month a Tanzanian has been charged for past-posting at a roulette table in Marina Bay Sands and a South African has been arrested at RWS for the same offence. On Wednesday a local woman was fined S$1,500 after pleading guilty to cashing out credits not belonging to her from a gaming machine at RWS. She had returned the money after being confronted by management and admitting that she had acted in a moment of impulse.

Gaming floor and surveillance staff at the Singapore casinos seem to have eagle eyes when it comes to catching those who try their luck at winning a sure bet - all but one of the above cases have been for individuals placing late bets when the result was known. It remains to be seen if casino security against would-be fraudsters stands up to the tricks played by the professional cheating gangs. Cameras are only as good as the eyes surveying the relayed images, and it will be the quality of initial and ongoing casino staff training that stops the criminals from adding Singapore to their casino hit list.

The Singapore authorities, often described as running an ‘illiberal democracy’ because of their no-jury trials, heavy legal penalties and laws restricting freedom of speech, are determined to keep a firm hand on their integrated casino resorts. Those arrested for offences contravening the casino rules and regulations, particularly in these early months, will doubtless be used to set an example to show both locals and foreigners that criminal activity will not be tolerated. (E-05.28.10)

© Copyright 2010 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage