Govt plans more safeguards against problem gambling
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SINGAPORE: The government will put in place more safeguards to protect Singaporeans from problem gambling.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) intends to expand its list of third-party exclusion orders beyond those who are bankrupt and on public assistance allowance.
Acting Minister Chan Chun Sing said these may include those who are receiving some form of government social assistance, such as a select group receiving assistance from the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare).
The ministry is also studying what it calls "circuit breakers", which are used by casinos in Holland, Australia and Austria.
They work by placing limits on betting machines and getting casinos to form dedicated teams of in-house experts on problem gambling.
Mr Chan said these new safeguards may be implemented over the next few months, in consultation with stakeholders.
He outlined these plans on the back of findings released on Thursday, showing that more low-income gamblers are betting large amounts while frequent gamblers and those with poor self-control are gambling more often.
These observations came from a 2011 Survey On Gambling Participation among Singapore residents, conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
The survey found that the proportion of low-income gamblers increased from 0.8 per cent in 2008 to 6 per cent in 2011.
These gamblers have an average monthly betting amount of more than S$1,000.
The survey said the overall median monthly betting amount fell from S$100 in 2008 to S$40 in 2011.
But the average amount rose from S$176 to S$212 over the same period, especially for low-income gamblers.
While the majority gambled with lower amounts, there was an increase in the number who betted large amounts.
This is especially so for the low-income gamblers.
The survey found that probable pathological gamblers (PPGs) betted more frequently.
A pathological gambler is someone who cannot resist impulses to gamble.
It said 68 per cent of PPGs gambled at least once a week, compared with 43 per cent for all gamblers.
PPGs are much more likely than non-PPG gamblers to have poor self-control in gambling.
They are likely to bet larger amounts, gamble more frequently and spend more time gambling.
These apply to horse racing, online and casino gamblers.
Overall, there has been a decline in gambling.
Forty-seven per cent of Singapore residents aged 18 years and above have participated in some form of gambling activity over a one-year period, lower than the 54 per cent in the 2008 survey.
Problem gambling rates are stable and have not changed significantly from 2008, based on the probable pathological and problem gambling rates for Singapore residents.
The pathological gambling rate for 2011 is 1.4 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent in 2008.
The rate for probable gambling for 2011 is 1.2 per cent, compared with 1.7 per cent in 2008.
Chairman of NCPG, Mr Lim Hock San, said the survey highlighted several focal areas to work on.
He said the council must continue to help problem-gamblers overcome their problem.
It must also continue to educate the public on the dangers of problem gambling, as well as ensure that there are adequate services in the community to help those who are addicted to gambling.
About 200,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) visited the two local casinos in 2011 but the novelty appears to be wearing off.
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) said 150,691 Singaporeans and PRs visited its casino from the opening date on 27 April 2010 to 31 December 2010.
In the year that ended on 31 December 2011, the number was 137,259.
The other gaming operator, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), said its entry-levy records show that the number of Singaporean and PR visitors at its casino fell from 199,783 in 2010 to 136,434 in 2011.
MBS said it is committed to working closely with MCYS and NCPG to promote responsible gaming on its premises.
A spokesperson said MBS is committed to providing information and guidance to its guests on the rules and regulations that govern the casino environment in Singapore.
In addition to the social safeguards already in place, MBS has an in-house training programme to educate all team members.
It also has highly visible signages and educational posters in its Back-of-House areas as well as Responsible Gaming literature on its premises with phone numbers and information for patrons who need assistance.
MBS said it has noted the additional social safeguard measures being implemented by the Singapore government and will continue to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner with regulatory authorities.
RWS said it strongly supports the government's initiative to protect Singaporeans from pathological gambling. It also welcomed the measures to exclude recipients on social assistance from gambling in the casinos.
RWS said that as good corporate citizen and long-term establishment employing 14,000 workers in Singapore, it believes in improving the community it operates in.
It added that this philosophy underpins its advocacy for responsible gambling.
- CNA/ir -
They should raise the entrance fee to $500.
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just close them lor.
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Just get rid of casino, toto, 4D, alcohol, tobacco.
All problems solved
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Allow Singaporeans to make small bets, like 5cents, 10 cents, just play play only.
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Originally posted by Summer hill:
Just get rid of casino, toto, 4D, alcohol, tobacco.
All problems solved
as much as i want to agree with you, but it won't solve the problems. it may reduce the problems significantly, yes, but it won't solve the problems.where there's money to be made, illegal operators will step in because they want to make the money. and where there's the illegal operators, there will also be customers.
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Originally posted by mancha:
Allow Singaporeans to make small bets, like 5cents, 10 cents, just play play only.
That's a very good idea. But the casino will report annual profits of a few thousand dollars a year.
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"The government will put in place more safeguards to protect Singaporeans from problem gambling"
Hypocrisy... i believe these issues were bring to the table even during the proposal stage to build IRs in singapore. Why come out with so many campagins and policies to curb the gambling issues
I guess its all simple economics, because the benifits of having a IR outweighs the minority of singaporeans with gambling issues.
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It is like one end they are importing more alcohol, imposing heavy tax and the other end, they are telling you not to drink.
They have to rely on the earning from the IR as their vision of various hub have go down the sg river.
But, they also have to "enjoy" the hefty price tag of more finance company, more escorts and more blood to clean.
The $100 entrance fee have a negative effect as the gamblers will bet more to recoup the $100 fee.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
It is like one end they are importing more alcohol, imposing heavy tax and the other end, they are telling you not to drink.
They have to rely on the earning from the IR as their vision of various hub have go down the sg river.
But, they also have to "enjoy" the hefty price tag of more finance company, more escorts and more blood to clean.
The $100 entrance fee have a negative effect as the gamblers will bet more to recoup the $100 fee.
Life in Sg is surreal.
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Our success is our own undoing.
Good for outsiders to see, but empty for local to know.
You have already invited the wolf inside the house and now you start to worry about its bite.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
Our success is our own undoing.
Good for outsiders to see, but empty for local to know.
You have already invited the wolf inside the house and now you start to worry about its bite.
They want to be like Liam Neeson in the movie The Grey fighting and punching wolves.