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Written by Our Correspondent
With the Resort World Sentosa casino set to open next Saturday, some Singaporeans are worried if it would lead to a rise in the number of gambling addiction problems.
According to Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, it is “hard to say” because Singaporeans are going to gamble anyway without the casinos:
“Whether with the opening (of the casino) there will be more gambling addiction problems is hard to say, because even without the casinos, people are going gambling anyway. Genting Highlands is not far away. So it is still ourselves, looking at a practical way to make an honest living, and do not try to think that you can beat the odds against the casino operator,” he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia.
Mr Khaw, who was visiting rental flats in Sembawang GRC, sent a reminder to Singaporeans that gambling is not a way to make a living:
”…if you think that through gambling you can make a living, make a killing or beat the odds, do not do that. Whether there will be more problems, whether there is a casino or no casino, people still want to gamble, and people will still want to get into trouble.”
The two integrated resorts with casinos are part of the government’s plan to diversify Singapore’s economy and to attract more visitors to Singapore.
During the parliament session on 18 April 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the Cabinet’s decision to allow the development of integrated resorts (IRs) with casinos in Singapore.
The decision to allow casinos to be built in Singapore was made hastily without much of a consultation with the people. In Taiwan’s Penghu County, a referendum was held for the people to decide if they want a casino to be build there which was rejected in October last year.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) was appointed by the government in August 2005 as part of Singapore’s national framework to address the issue of problem gambling. Its functions include raising public awareness of problem gambling. It also has the authority to bar certain people from the upcoming casinos under the Casino Control Act.
Though a hefty $100 entry fee imposed on Singaporeans is likely to discourage those from a certain “economic class” from entering the casinos, it is unlikely to deter chronic gamblers from doing so.
Mr Khaw appeared to have placed the onus on Singaporeans to exert “self-restraint” themselves in anticipation of possible social ills arising in the future with the opening of the two IRs.
In the event that there is a rise in the number of chronic gambling addicts, Singaporeans can be expected to be blamed again for not wanting to find practical ways to make a “honest living”.
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Last time when Sushi is only available in Japan, do you think you eat more Sushi now or last time?
With the Resort World Sentosa casino set to open next Saturday, some Singaporeans are worried if it would lead to a rise in the number of gambling addiction problems.
According to Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, it is “hard to say” because Singaporeans are going to gamble anyway without the casinos:
“Whether with the opening (of the casino) there will be more gambling addiction problems is hard to say, because even without the casinos, people are going gambling anyway. Genting Highlands is not far away. So it is still ourselves, looking at a practical way to make an honest living, and do not try to think that you can beat the odds against the casino operator,” he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia.
Mr Khaw, who was visiting rental flats in Sembawang GRC, sent a reminder to Singaporeans that gambling is not a way to make a living:
”…if you think that through gambling you can make a living, make a killing or beat the odds, do not do that. Whether there will be more problems, whether there is a casino or no casino, people still want to gamble, and people will still want to get into trouble.”
The two integrated resorts with casinos are part of the government’s plan to diversify Singapore’s economy and to attract more visitors to Singapore.
During the parliament session on 18 April 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the Cabinet’s decision to allow the development of integrated resorts (IRs) with casinos in Singapore.
The decision to allow casinos to be built in Singapore was made hastily without much of a consultation with the people. In Taiwan’s Penghu County, a referendum was held for the people to decide if they want a casino to be build there which was rejected in October last year.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) was appointed by the government in August 2005 as part of Singapore’s national framework to address the issue of problem gambling. Its functions include raising public awareness of problem gambling. It also has the authority to bar certain people from the upcoming casinos under the Casino Control Act.
Though a hefty $100 entry fee imposed on Singaporeans is likely to discourage those from a certain “economic class” from entering the casinos, it is unlikely to deter chronic gamblers from doing so.
Mr Khaw appeared to have placed the onus on Singaporeans to exert “self-restraint” themselves in anticipation of possible social ills arising in the future with the opening of the two IRs.
In the event that there is a rise in the number of chronic gambling addicts, Singaporeans can be expected to be blamed again for not wanting to find practical ways to make a “honest living”.
**************************************************
Last time when Sushi is only available in Japan, do you think you eat more Sushi now or last time?
:o 
or the endless "Q" who want to make it big, by 'donating' to SINkingpools...??:o
U tell them they are no good!.."U"...hmmm!, "U" tell them 
