This Lunar New Year, the 'midnight madness' may not be in Chinatown, but in Geylang instead.

Like the human traffic jams caused by last-minute shoppers in Chinatown, you would have to jostle your way through these back lanes.

Yet, there are no dazzling lights, tasty treats, decorations or traditional music along these alleys linking Lorong 14 to Lorong 18.

Since last week, a nightly crowd of about 300 people cram the dark lanes to the tune of dice being rolled in cups and numbered tiles being shuffled.

On the first night of Chinese New Year, the numbers swelled to 600. There is no room to move, hardly any to stand.

Makeshift gambling tables, lit only by portable fluorescent lamps, fill the alleys.

On the tables, bets are placed on numbered sheets of paper showing the faces on a dice.

Almost overnight, the narrow passageways have turned into an illegal casino, making them possibly the busiest streets in Geylang, said two residents.

One of them, who had used the lanes as a short cut to his favourite beef kway teow restaurant at Lorong 11, avoids them now.

Said Mr T S Lim, in his 30s: 'It's too crowded. I now walk along the main road because it's faster. There has always been small-time gambling here, but I don't know why it has suddenly become so popular.'

GRIDLOCK

The human gridlock is the result of 11 tables in the lanes, which are no wider than a basketball court.

Passers-by, both local and foreign, block the pathway when they stop to gawk at the money being wagered.

Some bet as little as $10, while others do not hesitate to put $50 on a variety of games like dice and tiles (similar to blackjack).

A pump attendant from a nearby petrol station said that operators of the open-air den have recently added more 'tables' to deal with the swelling crowd.

Said the attendant, who declined to be named: 'Usually on weekdays, you see maybe four or five tables maximum. The crowd never goes above 50 because you can still walk without bumping into others.

'Only during the Chinese New Year period, this lane becomes more popular than the prostitutes and restaurants in Geylang.'

Perhaps, it is no coincidence that the operators have increased their illegal services at this time.

Construction worker Selvam, 25, from India said his employer has given out hongbao or bonuses to workers in the company.

Said Mr Selvam: 'We have just collected our monthly salary and $200 red packet. It is not much, but I think enough to start (gambling) here. I just play small, so even if I lose, I won't worry so much.'

Another foreign worker, who gave his name only as Mr Deva, 33, said he is a cautious gambler.

Mr Deva, who won $80 the last time he gambled at the illegal casino, said he will 'always study which table has a better chance of winning'.

Well, perhaps Mr Deva was lucky.

At Geylang's backlane casino, there is no such thing as Lady Luck, said a former secret society member, Ah Fei, who is familiar with the illegal activities.

He said each lorong in Geylang is controlled by a different gang, working together with the den operators.

Said the heavily-tattooed Ah Fei,33: 'The moment you put your money on the table, you would have already lost.

'It's all a scam. The dealers let you win at first, but when they makan (eat in Malay), they sapu (sweep in Malay) the whole table.'

Ah Fei said one of the oldest trick is to let 'lucky' gamblers win frequently.

In reality, these winning players work for the dealers, he said.

Ah Fei added: 'This is to give the appearance that it's easy to win. When more people start betting or when the bets increase, that's when the dealers strike. These dealers have perfected methods to cheat innocent players.'

At the smoke-filled tables, dice-betting, like si gor lak (4-5-6 in Hokkien), remains a crowd favourite because turnover is fast.

In a newspaper report last year, the police warned people not to gamble illegally as some syndicates are known to use remote-controlled dice in their games.

Despite warnings from the authorities, both dealers and gamblers continue to engage in a nocturnal game of cat and mouse.

As early as 9pm, the lanes would be open for business.

In the last three days (from Monday 4 Feb), many men in their 20s do the work of setting up the tables, while a few older men in their 40s supervise.

While there are peddlers selling pornographic DVDs, passers-by pay more attention to gambling.

While waiting for gamblers, dealers shout in Hokkien or broken English: 'Friend, don't regret. Play small, win small, play big, win big.'

COME AND GO IN A FLASH

Surprisingly, the 300 people can disappear in less than 20 seconds, especially when lookouts tip off dealers to suspicious-looking vehicles or plainclothes policemen.

On Tuesday morning, the dealers and gamblers scattered four times in six hours.

All gambling paraphernalia were left behind after money on the tables was swiped by the dealers.

Yet, 10 minutes later, the dealers returned and started rolling their dice again.

Mr James Chua, a long-time former resident of Geylang, observed that the number of gamblers often increases on the second day of Chinese New Year.

'Before the new year, the majority of the gamblers are foreigners. When Singaporeans have done their visiting, they will be in the mood for more gambling,' said Mr Chua, 34.

Police said that 241 people were arrested for public gaming last year.

Those convicted of gambling in public can be fined up to $5,000 and jailed up to six months.

Gambling operators face up to five years in jail and a fine of more than $20,000.