Latest news with #SherylynnKok
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Singapore woman's RM800K casino win triggers cross-border challenge
LANDING a massive casino jackpot might appear to be pure fortune, but one Singapore woman discovered that claiming and transporting substantial overseas winnings can become a logistical nightmare. Twenty-eight-year-old entrepreneur Sherylynn Kok found herself facing unexpected complications in April after hitting an extraordinary RM800,000 (approximately $244,000) jackpot on a slot machine during a family vacation at Genting Highlands resort in Pahang. According to Straits Times, the frozen food supply company and social media agency owner was enjoying a weekend retreat with her boyfriend and parents when fortune struck on a Friday afternoon. Initially experiencing consecutive losses while machine-hopping, Kok eventually settled at a randomly selected slot machine. 'After switching between multiple machines, I finally chose one at random,' the businesswoman recalled about the life-changing moment. Within five minutes of playing, she activated a bonus round featuring four progressive jackpot levels: mini, minor, major, and grand - each offering increasingly valuable prizes with correspondingly lower probability odds. When she pressed the spin button, the reels aligned perfectly. Three grand prize symbols materialized across the payline, accompanied by a notification confirming her RM800,000 grand jackpot victory. Casino security personnel and staff members immediately approached Kok and her companion to verify the machine and validate the legitimate win. Following confirmation, she was directed to the cashier counter to collect her prize. The substantial payout consisted of eighty RM10,000 notes organized into eight bundles of RM100,000 each, requiring a backpack to transport the 'incredibly heavy' cash load. Given her inexperience handling such enormous amounts, Kok requested security escort services to her hotel accommodation. However, casino staff explained their protection services only extended within the gaming facility boundaries. 'They confirmed security coverage inside the casino premises, but warned they couldn't guarantee safety once we left the building,' she explained. The group implemented overnight shifts to safeguard the money-filled backpack throughout their remaining stay. Their transfer plans encountered immediate obstacles due to weekend banking closures, preventing international money remittance services. Additionally, they discovered that fund transfers required Malaysian bank account access, which none of the Singaporeans possessed. Airport departure procedures revealed another complication: exporting such significant cash amounts required prior approval from Malaysia's central banking authority. While her parents returned to Singapore as scheduled, Kok and her boyfriend remained behind to resolve the financial transfer challenges. The following day, she successfully established a Malaysian OCBC account featuring dual-currency functionality, enabling seamless conversion between ringgit and Singapore dollars. Despite her windfall, Kok maintains disciplined gambling habits, establishing strict loss limits before each gaming session. 'My gambling motivation isn't profit-driven - it's occasional weekend entertainment when I lack other activities,' she stated. Following news of her victory, friends suggested various investment opportunities and luxury purchases. However, Kok's risk-averse personality led her toward conservative financial management. 'Complex investment vehicles are beyond my understanding, so maintaining funds in traditional bank accounts feels considerably safer,' she reasoned. Her cautious approach stems from observing others' financial mismanagement after sudden wealth acquisition. She referenced a acquaintance who squandered a $1.4 million Toto jackpot through impulsive business investments and excessive spending within twelve months. Describing herself as 'low-maintenance,' Kok avoids ostentatious consumption and luxury goods attraction. Instead, she views her winnings as providing career flexibility and reduced professional pressure, rather than enabling complete retirement. 'I consciously avoid developing wealthy mindsets or assuming financial security. Two hundred thousand dollars won't sustain a lifetime,' she concluded pragmatically. ---
Rakyat Post
a day ago
- Business
- Rakyat Post
Singaporean Stuffs RM800,000 Genting Jackpot Win Into Backpack, Encounters Border Hurdles
Subscribe to our FREE A Singaporean businesswoman experienced unexpected difficulties transferring her casino winnings back home after hitting a RM800,000 jackpot at Genting Highlands in April. Sherylynn Kok, 28, won the grand prize on a slot machine during a family weekend trip, but discovered that moving large sums across borders involved complex banking procedures and security considerations. Kok triggered the jackpot feature game and secured the RM800,000 payout, which casino staff verified as legitimate. She received eight bundles of RM100,000 in RM10,000 notes, requiring a backpack to carry the cash. Security guards escorted her within the casino premises but informed her they could not provide protection once she left the building. The family took shifts watching the money overnight in their hotel room. Banking Roadblocks Force Extended Stay Weekend bank closures prevented immediate money transfers. The group also learned that remitting the funds required a Malaysian bank account, which none of them had opened. At the airport, they discovered that exporting such large amounts of cash from Malaysia required national bank approval. Kok's parents returned to Singapore while she and her boyfriend remained to resolve the transfer issues. The following day, Kok opened a dual-currency account with OCBC Malaysia, which allowed her to complete the transfer process. Measured Perspective on Unexpected Fortune Kok described herself as risk-averse when it came to investments and opted to keep the money in a standard bank account. She cited examples of others who had quickly spent large windfalls and viewed her winnings as providing more time flexibility rather than immediate wealth. I don't think SGD200,000 will last you a lifetime. The case illustrates the procedural requirements that can complicate large cross-border financial transfers, even for legitimate casino winnings. READ MORE : Original reporting by Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Genting casino win leaves Singaporean with RM800,000 and a tricky problem
SINGAPORE, Aug 17 — Winning RM800,000 at a slot machine? Great. Figuring out how to bring it across the border to Singapore? That was a headache Sherylynn Kok did not anticipate. The Straits Times reported that Ko, 28, won the large sum while on a Genting weekend getaway with her parents and boyfriend. 'I kept changing slot machines and finally sat down at a random one,' she said, saying until that moment she had been on a losing streak. She ended up winning the grand prize, and it was verified by casino staff, who were accompanied by security guards. Kok was handed a backpack of cash – eight bundles of RM100,000, in RM10,000 notes that she said was 'crazy heavy.' When she got to the airport with her parents and boyfriend, she found out she needed Bank Negara approval to bring the cash on a plane. That left Kok and her boyfriend having to stay behind to figure out what to do while her parents flew home to Singapore first. In the end she managed to open a Malaysian bank account with OCBC that also allowed dual-currency flexibility so she could switch between the ringgit and Singapore dollar. Kok claims that she is a disciplined gambler. 'I gamble not because I want to earn money, but because once in a while, there is nothing to do, and I have no plans over the weekends,' she said. She has no plans to do more with the money besides keep it in a savings account as she doesn't understand more complex investment options. Kok is also pragmatic about her win: 'I don't think S$200,000 (RM656,896) will last you a lifetime.' She had seen firsthand how a friend of a friend won S$1.4 million from Toto and spent in all in less than a year and has decided to maintain her current 'low-maintenance' lifestyle.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey, Singapore News
Winning a large sum of money at a casino may seem like a dream come true, but few anticipate the challenges and stress involved in bringing that money back home if the win happens overseas. Ms Sherylynn Kok, 28, experienced this first-hand in April, after winning RM800,000 (S$244,000) at a slot machine in a Genting Highlands casino. She, her boyfriend and her parents were on a weekend getaway at the hill resort. On that fateful Friday afternoon, they began playing at the jackpot machines. Ms Kok was initially on a losing streak. 'I kept changing slot machines and finally sat down at a random one,' recalls the owner of a frozen food supply company and social media agency. Five minutes in, she triggered a feature game offering four jackpot tiers: mini, minor, major and grand, each with rising prize values and shrinking odds. She pressed the button. The columns began aligning on the payline. Three of the grand prize symbols appeared on the screen, along with a small message at the bottom of the screen: She had won the grand prize of RM800,000. Shortly after, a group of security guards, along with a few casino staff, approached Ms Kok and her boyfriend and checked the machine. After verifying that it was a legitimate win, she was asked to head to the cashier to collect her winnings. Stacks of RM10,000 notes, separated into eight bundles of RM100,000, filled up a backpack that was 'crazy heavy', she said. As she had never carried such a huge sum before, she requested security guards to escort her back to her hotel room. 'They said walking around the casino was fine, but the moment we exited the casino, they cannot guarantee anything won't happen.' That night, the group took turns to guard the backpack. It was the weekend, so they could not remit the money back to Singapore and all the banks were closed. The group also learnt that transfers needed to be made using a Malaysian bank account, which none of them had. When they reached the airport to get on their return flight to Singapore, they found out that carrying such a large amount of cash out of the country required approval from Malaysia's national bank. Ms Kok's parents returned to Singapore first, while she and her boyfriend figured out their next steps. The next day, she managed to open a Malaysian bank account with OCBC, which offered dual-currency access, with the flexibility to switch between ringgit and Singapore dollar. Ms Kok claims she is disciplined when gambling, setting a firm limit on how much she is willing to lose before she starts. 'I gamble not because I want to earn money, but because once in a while, there is nothing to do, and I have no plans over the weekends.' When told of her win, some friends advised her to invest her money or treat herself to some luxury shopping or a holiday. 'I am very risk-averse, and I don't understand complex investment options, so keeping the money in a simple bank account seems safer,' says Ms Kok. She has heard stories of others who came into large sums of money, only to spend it in a matter of months. A friend of a friend won $1.4 million from Toto. The woman impulsively invested in various businesses, spent lavishly, and ultimately used up all the money in less than a year. Ms Kok refers to herself as 'low-maintenance' and is not drawn to conspicuous spending and luxury items. To her, this windfall is a gift of time – a chance to slow down in her career and not hustle as hard. But she does not see it as a ticket to early retirement. 'I keep trying to steer myself away from the thinking that I am rich or like I have money. I don't think $200,000 will last you a lifetime.' [[nid:720076]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Winning a large sum of money at a casino may seem like a dream come true, but few anticipate the challenges and stress involved in bringing that money back home if the win happens overseas. Ms Sherylynn Kok, 28, experienced this first-hand in A pril , after winning RM800,000 ($244,000) at a slot machine in a Genting Highlands casino. She, her boyfriend and her parents were on a weekend getaway at the hill resort. On that fateful Friday afternoon, they began playing at the jackpot machines. Ms Kok was initially on a losing streak. 'I kept changing slot machines and finally sat down at a random one,' recalls the owner of a frozen food supply company and social media agency. Five minutes in, she triggered a feature game offering four jackpot tiers: mini, minor, major and grand, each with rising prize values and shrinking odds. She pressed the button. The columns began aligning on the payline. Three of the grand prize symbols appeared on the screen, along with a small message at the bottom of the screen: She had won the grand prize of RM800,000. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Shortly after, a group of security guards, along with a few casino staff, approached Ms Kok and her boyfriend and checked the machine. After verifying that it was a legitimate win, she was asked to head to the cashier to collect her winnings. Stacks of RM10,000 notes , separated into eight bundles of RM100,000, filled up a backpack that was 'crazy heavy', she said. As she had never carried such a huge sum before, she requested security guards to escort her back to her hotel room. 'They said walking around the casino was fine, but the moment we exited the casino, they cannot guarantee anything won't happen.' That night, the group took turns to guard the backpack. It was the weekend, so they could not remit the money back to Singapore and all the banks were closed. The group also learnt that transfers needed to be made using a Malaysian bank account, which none of them had. When they reached the airport to get on their return flight to Singapore, they found out that carrying such a large amount of cash out of the country required approval from Malaysia's national bank. Ms Kok's parents returned to Singapore first, while she and her boyfriend figured out their next steps. The next day, she managed to open a Malaysian bank account with OCBC, which offered dual-currency access, with the flexibility to switch between ringgit and Singapore dollar . Ms Kok claims she is disciplined when gambling, setting a firm limit on how much she is willing to lose before she starts. 'I gamble not because I want to earn money, but because once in a while, there is nothing to do, and I have no plans over the weekends.' When told of her win, some friends advised her to invest her money or treat herself to some luxury shopping or a holiday. 'I am very risk-averse, and I don't understand complex investment options, so keeping the money in a simple bank account seems safer,' says Ms Kok. She has heard stories of others who came into large sums of money, only to spend it in a matter of months. A friend of a friend won $1.4 million from Toto. The woman impulsively invested in various businesses, spent lavishly, and ultimately used up all the money in less than a year. Ms Kok refers to herself as 'low-maintenance' and is not drawn to conspicuous spending and luxury items. To her, this windfall is a gift of time – a chance to slow down in her career and not hustle as hard. But she does not see it as a ticket to early retirement. 'I keep trying to steer myself away from the thinking that I am rich or like I have money. I don't think $200,000 will last you a lifetime.'
