A Malaysian businessman is suing a casino in London’s Mayfair area for failing to stop him during a losing streak. Gamblers lost £3.9m in 72 hours of poker at private members club Aspinalls.
According to the Daily Mail, Malaysian tycoon Han Qiao Lin said the club had breached its responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005.
The 62-year-old has a fortune of £40 million and has business interests in real estate, steel and computer chip manufacturing. He also owns property in London.
According to the Daily Mail, Lin joined the club in 2014 and was allowed to cash cheques worth £600,000.
He claims that after losing the sanction amount, the club increased his line of credit to £1.9m and offered an additional £2m of credit, which the businessman also lost.
The incident happened in 2015 when Lim was playing the card game baccarat.
The club initially filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian businessman for not paying the amount he lost. Aspinalls won the case in 2019 and the judge also fined Lim £100,000 for breaching four court orders.
Now, the tycoon is seeking £3.9m in damages using a clause in the 2005 Act, which he says “should protect vulnerable people from harm or exploitation by gambling”.
“Aspinalls exploited the claimant’s painful attempt to make up for losses by allowing more money and more time to gamble,” he said in the petition.
Aspinalls declined to comment on the matter as it was in court, but its lawyers told the Daily Mail the company was seeking to “dismiss” the claim.
The club was founded by zoo owner John Aspinall, who started gambling in the 1960s. Aspinall Private Club was established in 1962.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
