Singapore Man Jailed for Stealing Nearly S$50,000 at Wedding to Fund Gambling Addiction

A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 12 months in prison after stealing approximately S$48,939 (about US$39,000) from a wedding reception at the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach on April 5, 2025. The man, a former banquet server familiar with the venue’s layout, took two unattended red packet collection boxes containing the cash.

Following the theft, he used part of the stolen money to purchase clothing and deposited S$36,331 into his bank account, converting it into online gambling credits. He made 195 bets on an illegal gambling website and spent an additional S$12,200 at a licensed Singapore Pools venue.

The man was arrested on April 7, 2025, and found with S$3,000 in cash. In court, he admitted to acting out of desperation due to a gambling addiction and pleaded guilty to theft and illegal gambling. District Judge Christopher Goh sentenced him to jail and ordered him to repay the stolen amount, with an additional 100 days in jail if he fails to do so.