Singapore police discovered that illegal gambling operations there are going high-tech by using palm-top computers to record bets and gambling information. Law enforcement officers seized two of the devices, along with $11,000 during a raid, and arrested two men who served as runners for a local gambling syndicate.
The runners stored wagering information in the devices and used them to determine how much money was due as well as generate receipts for betting transactions. The devices also made it possible for "loyal" customers to bet on credit. The operators could then transmit bets via modem to their offices and calculate the day's betting turnover.
"This is the first time we've seen such devices being used," a police spokesman said.
The gambling syndicates were probably able to conceal the palm-tops during previous run-ins with police, but failed to hide them from police during yesterday's raid. Sales representatives frequently use the palm-top computers in their work.
"The runners were collecting bets not just for 4-DS, but also for Toto and Magnum, the Malaysian 4-D lottery," another police official said. He also indicated that this was the first time one runner was able to collect bets for all three lotteries, a feat made possible by the palm-tops. A program enabled runners to key in the punters' numbers and the device then calculated the money due.