Illegal 'gambling den' in Jurong West alley reportedly sees stakes of up to S$50,000

A narrow alley between a wet market and a coffee shop in Jurong reportedly hides an illegal gambling den with stakes going as high as S$50,000.

The alley is situated along Jurong West Street 41, between the Jurong Central Plaza wet market at Block 493, and Block 494.

An anonymous source told Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min) that this is where a group of elderly men allegedly gather to gamble with dice at a makeshift stall in broad daylight.

The group is said to disperse when uniformed officers are seen nearby, and reconvene afterwards.

The source told Shin Min that these men would typically gather on weekend mornings to gamble, but sometimes on weekdays as well.

They allegedly start gambling as early as 6am, but the closing time of the "stall" is flexible.

Stakes have exceeded S$50,000 on occasions, with youngsters joining in as well, said the source, who alleged that the men had turned the alley into a "casino".

Businesses and residents in the area interviewed by Shin Min shared they had seen a group of elderly men gathered around a table in the alley before, but could not make out what exactly they were doing.

Putting money on table

On May 27 at around 10am, around 10 men were seen gathering around a table next to a shrine in the alley which had dice, cups, plates and chess pieces on it, Shin Min reported.

Some of the men were seen placing S$50 bills on the table, purportedly to make their bets.

Shin Min reported that other people were deployed as lookouts at the coffee shop and a drop-off point near the alley.

By 11am, the group had dispersed but the table was left in the alley.

According to Singapore's gambling laws, it is illegal to gamble with an unlicensed gambling service provider or at unlawful gambling place.

Offenders can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months or both.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News