---
title: "Man earned $3k daily from running illegal gambling den in Geylang — but now unable to pay $90k fine"
url: "/trending-now/man-earned-3000-daily-running-illegal-gambling-den-geylang-now-unable-pay-90000-fine"
published: "2026-10-18T03:53:16.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-18T03:58:23.000Z"
section: "Trending Now"
authors: ["Cherry Tan"]
tags: ["TNP News","gambling","illegal gambling","crime"]
---

# Man earned $3k daily from running illegal gambling den in Geylang — but now unable to pay $90k fine

*A 59-year-old man who ran an illegal online gambling den in Geylang for more than a month earned an estimated $3,000 a day from punters.*

A 59-year-old man who ran an illegal online gambling den in Geylang for more than a month earned an estimated $3,000 a day from punters, bringing his total earnings to about $90,000.

Tan Boon Meng was sentenced to 11 weeks’ jail and fined $90,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under the Gambling Control Act.

According to Shin Min Daily News, police raided a unit in Geylang at about 11.40pm on Sept 19 last year and discovered that Tan was involved in illegal gambling activities.

Investigations revealed that he used computer terminals at the unit to convert cash into gaming credits, which were then deposited into punters’ online accounts to let them play casino games.

At the time of the raid, the gambling website ran by Tan still had credits worth about RM7,362 (around $2,316) in its accounts.

Tan admitted that he was the mastermind behind the operation and used the unit at Lorong 39 Geylang as an illegal gambling den.

He also admitted to working with a friend nicknamed Ah Chun to bring 10 slot machines from Malaysia into Singapore, with the pair agreeing to split the profits.

Tan earned about $3,000 a day from punters’ bets, and his total earnings during the period were estimated at $90,000.

During the raid, police seized 11 monitors, 11 computer processing units, 11 computer mice, 11 keyboards, network cables and $553 in cash.

Tan claimed that about $150 belonged to him personally, while the remainder was gambling proceeds.

Tan, who was a Singapore permanent resident at the time of the offences, was released on bail after his initial arrest.

However, he was arrested again on April 30 this year for allegedly committing another offence while out on bail.

## Unable to pay $90,000 fine

The prosecution described Tan as the mastermind who planned and managed the gambling operation, arranged for the slot machines to be brought into Singapore and oversaw the computer terminals.

It argued that a deterrent sentence was necessary given the estimated $90,000 in earnings and Tan’s repeated involvement in gambling offences, including allegedly reoffending while on bail.

The prosecution sought 10 to 12 weeks’ jail and a $90,000 fine.

As Tan could not afford to pay the fine, he will have to serve an additional three months in jail in default of payment.