You think scanning of ICs is just to collect $100? Think again
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Dear Ali-Baba Singapore Thief,
I, again, tend to agree with what you say.
Technically speaking, all our NRIC have bar codes, and our NRIC numbers are unique.
Next, our NRIC numbers are documented clearly in the birth & death registry database.
Meaning to say, one scan on your NRIC number, it can be traceable to your entire life's record.
Singapore is a technologically savvy nation, and it always uses the latest database system, that is beyond doubt that it can contain ALL of Singapore's population of a small number of 5 Million inclusive newbie Citizens and Permanent Resident, perhaps with hard disk space to contain another 10 Million more! (for Mirroring Purposes & Data Backup & RAID)
With one scan, as long as it's linked to the central database (which our Police have it), they can see where do you live, where have you been, what have you bought (any thing that is bought by CASH would not be documented) - (bought via NETS, CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD, anything linked to your NRIC number...)
Now that we know that this is Technologically Possible, we can analyze the next point on WHY?
What do I know about Casinos?
1. It is a place to legally take your hard-earned or easily-earned or stolen money, or tax evaded money, or whatever money... due to anyone's foolishness of wanting more for doing absolutely nothing...
I don't think the Government Target Client is Singaporeans...
I tend to believe that the Government of Singapore knows the harms of a Casino, and at the same time knows the rewards tie to it.
2. With the understanding that it's the Tourist Money that they are after, they are targetting at RICH Tourists with big sums of money to throw away.
At the same time, competing with Malaysia's Genting, and Macau's Casinos.
It's estimated that there would be around 10 Million tourist visiting Singapore annually?
If lets say statistically, only 50% are curious and enters the Casino, and only 50% of the curious tourist actually place a bet of only SGD 100 sum at risk, lets see the revenue.
Estimated Total Revenue for Small Players = 50% X 50% X 10 Million X SGD 100 = SGD 250 Million Gross Revenue (assuming 100% won by House)
But we know that (十赌,九输) 90% winning rate by HOUSE.
Giving a Gross Revenue of SGD 225 Million / year
Now we're talking about big money here!
If Singaporeans keep on going into the Casino, it'll spoil the true intention of siphoning money from overseas.
The Singaporeans money is WHAT Singapore already have, thus it does no difference in the economy.
Thus, in order to PREVENT/DETER Singaporeans from playing in the CASINOS, there is a SGD 100 entrance fee.
And if the SGD 100 entrance fee is not enough, tracking you will allow the IRAs to get into your books, and make you pay a hefty tax, when you declare you're jobless, but can go into Casino so often....
Conclusion;
Ali-Baba Singapore Thief's hear say have merits, and it's worth keeping such database system, as it will not only Prevent Singaporeans from entering, however if there are some Singaporeans who get addicted, they will have enough response time to react, by sending their IRA to check their books, and tax these Singaporean Gamblers higher.
And the target clientele base of the Casino is NOT SINGAPOREANS, it's Foreign Tourists!