Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

All 23 people charged with offences relating to an illegal gambling den at Senegal's consulate in Singapore have posted bail and are scheduled to return to court, news reports said on Saturday. The five people accused of assisting in managing the consulate's premises as a gambling house each posted 20,000 Singapore dollars (19,600 US dollars) bail on Friday and were scheduled to return to court on December 8. Police raided the five-storey consulate building on November 3 and found three of its meetings rooms had baccarat tables and the fourth was being used as a bedroom. The consulate was doubling as an illegal casino, packing in up to 100 enthusiasts a night, with bets ranging from a minimum 100 Singapore dollars (64 US dollars) up to 30,000 Singapore dollars (19,600 US dollars). Another three men and 15 women, mostly Indonesians, were released on 10,000-Singapore-dollars (6,369 US) bail after indicating they wanted to plead guilty to helping manage the casino as card dealers and dice tossers, the report said. They are scheduled to return to court on November 17. All 23 face fines of between 5,000 Singapore dollars (3,184 US) and 50,000 Singapore dollars (31,847 US) and up to three years in prison. Benny Kusni, the honorary consul, is out on bail of 10,000 Singapore dollars (6,369 US). The 36-year-old Indonesian had earlier insisted he knew nothing about the den and only handled visa matters at the consulate. International conventions to not grant honorary consults immunity from local authorities.