Is A Gambling Debt Illegal And Unenforceable In Malaysia?

In the case of Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. v Poh Yang Hong [2019] MLJU 2003, the Malaysian High Court sided with Wynn Resorts (Macau) in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against a punter who had gambled at the Macau-based casino and had owed it millions of dollars.

In His Lordship's decision in January 2019, Justice S. Nantha Balan allowed Wynn Resorts (Macau)'s claim to be entered against the Defendant in the sum of HK$33,186,554.00 (equivalent to RM17,257,000.00), with interest thereon, being the amount owing under a gaming credit facility.

The Defendant's appeal to the Court of Appeal had been dismissed. The Defendant has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court, which is fixed for hearing in November 2020.