Controls for Singapore casino

Measures will be put in place, say ministers

Lee Ching Wern

IF PLANS for a casino materialise, the Government will have to put in place measures to ensure that criminal activities and social ills do not infiltrate Singapore society, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters yesterday.
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Minister of Trade and Industry George Yeo announced in Parliament last week that the Government is considering building a casino as part of an international entertainment centre on Sentosa and the southern islands.
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"If there is a casino, the consideration would be law and order ... measures should be put in place to ensure that criminal activities and syndicates do not get infiltrated into our environment," Mr Wong told reporters at a Bishan-Toa Payoh community event.
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Offshore casinos are accessible to Singaporeans, but bringing a casino to our doorstep is something Mr Wong had resisted for years. Besides the proliferation of underground loan-shark businesses and drug peddling, there may even be spill-over effects of matrimonial and bankruptcy problems. Inevitably, some casino-goers — such as the unemployed, housewives and retirees — may not be able to afford a big gambling habit.
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"We have to ensure that people do not get into trouble where they borrow heavily and whittle away their life-long savings," said Mr Wong.
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One of the ways would be to limit Singaporeans' access to the casino. For instance, through having stringent criteria for membership, he suggested.
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Why, despite the many concerns, is the Government prepared to change its previous stance?
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"It's not a case of suddenly waking up one day and deciding to have a casino. As Singapore advances, we have to find new ways of attracting people and investments. This is just one option we are looking at," said Mr Wong.
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Still, die-hard gamblers should not get their hopes up.
.
"I don't think we should take it for granted that there will be a casino. We'll embark on a study of this international entertainment centre, of which there could be a casino, before coming to a decision," said Mr Wong.
Measures will be put in place, say ministers

IF PLANS for a casino materialise, the Government will have to put in place measures to ensure that criminal activities and social ills do not infiltrate Singapore society, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters yesterday.
.
Minister of Trade and Industry George Yeo announced in Parliament last week that the Government is considering building a casino as part of an international entertainment centre on Sentosa and the southern islands.
.
"If there is a casino, the consideration would be law and order ... measures should be put in place to ensure that criminal activities and syndicates do not get infiltrated into our environment," Mr Wong told reporters at a Bishan-Toa Payoh community event.
.
Offshore casinos are accessible to Singaporeans, but bringing a casino to our doorstep is something Mr Wong had resisted for years. Besides the proliferation of underground loan-shark businesses and drug peddling, there may even be spill-over effects of matrimonial and bankruptcy problems. Inevitably, some casino-goers — such as the unemployed, housewives and retirees — may not be able to afford a big gambling habit.
.
"We have to ensure that people do not get into trouble where they borrow heavily and whittle away their life-long savings," said Mr Wong.
.
One of the ways would be to limit Singaporeans' access to the casino. For instance, through having stringent criteria for membership, he suggested.
.
Why, despite the many concerns, is the Government prepared to change its previous stance?
.
"It's not a case of suddenly waking up one day and deciding to have a casino. As Singapore advances, we have to find new ways of attracting people and investments. This is just one option we are looking at," said Mr Wong.
.
Still, die-hard gamblers should not get their hopes up.
.
"I don't think we should take it for granted that there will be a casino. We'll embark on a study of this international entertainment centre, of which there could be a casino, before coming to a decision," said Mr Wong. Measures will be put in place, say ministers

IF PLANS for a casino materialise, the Government will have to put in place measures to ensure that criminal activities and social ills do not infiltrate Singapore society, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters yesterday.
.
Minister of Trade and Industry George Yeo announced in Parliament last week that the Government is considering building a casino as part of an international entertainment centre on Sentosa and the southern islands.
.
"If there is a casino, the consideration would be law and order ... measures should be put in place to ensure that criminal activities and syndicates do not get infiltrated into our environment," Mr Wong told reporters at a Bishan-Toa Payoh community event.
.
Offshore casinos are accessible to Singaporeans, but bringing a casino to our doorstep is something Mr Wong had resisted for years. Besides the proliferation of underground loan-shark businesses and drug peddling, there may even be spill-over effects of matrimonial and bankruptcy problems. Inevitably, some casino-goers — such as the unemployed, housewives and retirees — may not be able to afford a big gambling habit.
.
"We have to ensure that people do not get into trouble where they borrow heavily and whittle away their life-long savings," said Mr Wong.
.
One of the ways would be to limit Singaporeans' access to the casino. For instance, through having stringent criteria for membership, he suggested.
.
Why, despite the many concerns, is the Government prepared to change its previous stance?
.
"It's not a case of suddenly waking up one day and deciding to have a casino. As Singapore advances, we have to find new ways of attracting people and investments. This is just one option we are looking at," said Mr Wong.
.
Still, die-hard gamblers should not get their hopes up.
.
"I don't think we should take it for granted that there will be a casino. We'll embark on a study of this international entertainment centre, of which there could be a casino, before coming to a decision," said Mr Wong. Measures will be put in place, say ministers

IF PLANS for a casino materialise, the Government will have to put in place measures to ensure that criminal activities and social ills do not infiltrate Singapore society, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters yesterday.
.
Minister of Trade and Industry George Yeo announced in Parliament last week that the Government is considering building a casino as part of an international entertainment centre on Sentosa and the southern islands.
.
"If there is a casino, the consideration would be law and order ... measures should be put in place to ensure that criminal activities and syndicates do not get infiltrated into our environment," Mr Wong told reporters at a Bishan-Toa Payoh community event.
.
Offshore casinos are accessible to Singaporeans, but bringing a casino to our doorstep is something Mr Wong had resisted for years. Besides the proliferation of underground loan-shark businesses and drug peddling, there may even be spill-over effects of matrimonial and bankruptcy problems. Inevitably, some casino-goers — such as the unemployed, housewives and retirees — may not be able to afford a big gambling habit.
.
"We have to ensure that people do not get into trouble where they borrow heavily and whittle away their life-long savings," said Mr Wong.
.
One of the ways would be to limit Singaporeans' access to the casino. For instance, through having stringent criteria for membership, he suggested.
.
Why, despite the many concerns, is the Government prepared to change its previous stance?
.
"It's not a case of suddenly waking up one day and deciding to have a casino. As Singapore advances, we have to find new ways of attracting people and investments. This is just one option we are looking at," said Mr Wong.
.
Still, die-hard gamblers should not get their hopes up.
.
"I don't think we should take it for granted that there will be a casino. We'll embark on a study of this international entertainment centre, of which there could be a casino, before coming to a decision," said Mr Wong.

Source: Today Online