UK Court Rejects Gambler’s Complaint against Casino over Drunken Gambling Spree

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 9, 2023

• 
• 

A high-roller gambler may have just played his last card to avoid a significant liability justified based on too much alcohol. The accused had insisted that he could not be responsible for the £600,000 (US$766,140) in debt he built up as he gambled at one of Mayfair’s clubs in the UK, given that the gaming venue had allowed him to drink too much. A judge disagreed.

Aspinall’s, an upscale casino in Mayfair, filed the lawsuit after Lester Hui, the accused, lost a total of £589,724 (US$753,018) playing double chance baccarat. The gambler would later refuse to pay the tab.

The club’s owner has already testified and has confirmed in court that he will not take responsibility for the debt. He claims that the casino staff had supplied various drinks to Hui, including Chinese liqueur and Mao Tai. All of this was at the request of the gambler.

However, Justice Cotter of the High Court concluded on Friday that Hui was responsible for the debt. After doing so, steps were defined for Huis to follow and thus proceed with the payment and full reimbursement of the debt owed to the casino. It’s now up to the casino and Hui to figure out a payment plan.

The private members’ club on Curzon Street had already included Hui on its select high-spending privilege list. Hui was entitled to exceptional concierge service, personalized attention, and free food and drinks. The accused has been part of this select group since 1998.

On February 9, 2016, Hui and his friends purchased over 10 bottles of premium wine. They also added champagne to the list as part of a special meal commemorating the club’s Chinese New Year celebration. Throughout the celebration, Hui proceeded to lose over £600,000 that night. Of that amount, £400,000 (US$510,760) was gone in just over 20 minutes.

Hui claims to have consumed five to ten shots of Mao Tai. For context, this unique liquor has a 53% alcohol concentration and can quickly stack up against a liter of vodka. Hui also claims to have added three and a half bottles of champagne and wine. Additionally, Hui claims that workers disregarded a self-imposed restriction of £30,000 (US$38,307) per wager.

However, Aspinall’s filed a claim for recovery in September 2019 and demanded that Hui make good on his debt. The club administration claimed that although Hui had consumed much alcohol, he was sober enough to make wise judgments. The client even mentioned that Hui drove himself home.

The administration also stated that if a gambler was already excessively inebriated, personnel would not have pushed them to keep playing or would have proceeded to limit their alcohol intake.