Casino Control Act may soon have a "visit limit"
-
SINGAPORE: Singapore's laws governing the two casinos, the Casino Control Act, may soon have a "visit limit" to protect financially vulnerable local patrons who visit the casinos frequently.
The aim is to have them curb their gambling behaviour before they become financially distressed.
This is one of several amendments the government is proposing to the Casino Control Act in respect of five areas - Crime, Gaming, Social, Economic and Tax, and which are up for public views and feedback for one month from 6 July 2012.
The government, however, adds that it does not intend to make changes to the entry level for now.
In a comprehensive public consultation paper, the government explained that as an extension of the existing casino exclusion measures, it is proposing that the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) be empowered to issue visit limits for local, financially vulnerable patrons who frequent the casinos.
Families and individuals will also be empowered to apply for a visit limit in addition to the current family and voluntary self-exclusion.
Turning to the overall aim of the amendments, the public consultation paper explains that they aim to better align the legislative framework with the original policy intention of introducing the Integrated Resorts in Singapore.
The government has explained that the concept of an IR with its variety of leisure offerings is meant to provide visitors with a quality and distinctive destination experience.
Within the larger IR developments, the casinos are a small but essential component and these help to make the entire developments financially sustainable.
The amendments also strive to enhance the law enforcement levers, streamline regulatory requirements and operational processes so that they keep pace with international best practices and industry developments, strengthen social safeguards and improve the tax administration.
It adds that the IRs have brought about economic benefits and the negative impact of the casinos on the law and order, and social aspects are under control.
Nonetheless, with the benefit of two years of practical experience, a review of the regulatory regime and the Casino Control Act (CCA) is timely.
Giving more details of the proposed changes, the government explained that in the area of crime, it wants to enhance the law enforcement levers to address crime associated with the casinos.
Among the proposed amendments include appropriate steps taken by the casino operators to ensure that those within the casino premises do not conduct illegal betting or gaming.
Also being considered as casino crimes - past posting, which is the act of making a bet after the results of the game are known, and cheating at table games carrying chips worth $10,000 or more outside the boundaries of the designated site.
The possession of counterfeit chips and the materials to make counterfeit chips, and the unlawful interference with gaming equipment within the casino premises and in any part of Singapore, will also be deemed a crime.
To continue to protect vulnerable groups from the potential harm of casino gambling, social safeguards will be strengthened.
Besides the proposed "visit limit", the government will also enhance the powers of the National Council on Problem Gambling to issue casino exclusion orders with regard to Family Exclusion Orders.
This is where the family member with the gambling problem cannot be located or is uncooperative, or where there is a need to act urgently to protect the family from further severe harm.
And when an application to revoke a family exclusion or self exclusion order is made, the NCPG would be given powers to require excluded persons to undergo a clinical assessment to determine the application.
It will also be an offence for daily entry levy holders to stay in the casino beyond 24 hours without paying the additional entry levy and for attempting to evade the entry levy.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)'s 2011 gambling prevalence survey found that probable pathological and problem gambling (PPG) rates among Singapore Residents have remained stable between 1 percent and 2 percent.
However, the proportion of low-income gamblers who bet large amounts has increased.
Probable pathological gamblers are found to have higher gambling frequency and poorer self-control in gambling.
Poorer self-control in gambling was detected among those who participated in horse racing, online and casino gambling.
Casino operators will also be required to provide the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports with more details on their Responsible Gambling policies and practices covering topics like patron education and employee training on problem gambling and responsible gambling.
The public can send their comments and feedback on the proposed amendments to the Casino Control Act by August 6.
- CNA/de -
which begs the question why the hell did they allow not one but two goddamned casinos in the first place...
the insane drive to increase GDP for GDP growth itself? can't see other reasons
-
might as well say scrap the annual levy..
no money but still want to gamble?? TOTO, 4D lor...
-
Thing is this... there's always people who want to gamble, but you've to try n manage this problem...
No gambling, ends up there's also underground ones at Geylang as seen in e evening papers
-
Implement Visit Limit ?
Got take out the $100 levy bo ?
-
;(
-
Originally posted by Bikeforceful:
People must be clearly told the casinos are not here to let you have a windfall- they are here to MAKE MONEY out of you!The odds are against you . so just don't patronise it. .As if they don't know.
They know Singapore Pools makan them.
They know the bookies makan them.
They know the illegal 4D operators makan them.
Casinos, where they care.
They still patronise them.
Drugs, slimming pills, miracle medicines are know to be harmful, yet people take them, so there are laws to safe guard the people.
Same with gambling laws.
I think admission of Singaporeans to Casinos should be by prescription slip issued by the NCGP, and do away with the $100.00 levy.
-
If limit visit, then wouldn't that make the gamblers bet even more since they know they have to make back all their losses before they reach their last visit for that month/year?
It's like the $100 levy, gamblers need to make back that amount to breakeven in the casino.
-
Originally posted by mancha:
As if they don't know.
They know Singapore Pools makan them.
They know the bookies makan them.
They know the illegal 4D operators makan them.
Casinos, where they care.
They still patronise them.
Drugs, slimming pills, miracle medicines are know to be harmful, yet people take them, so there are laws to safe guard the people.
Same with gambling laws.
I think admission of Singaporeans to Casinos should be by prescription slip issued by the NCGP, and do away with the $100.00 levy.
it's all a matte of howmany stupid people we have. -
Originally posted by mancha:
As if they don't know.
They know Singapore Pools makan them.
They know the bookies makan them.
They know the illegal 4D operators makan them.
Casinos, where they care.
They still patronise them.
Drugs, slimming pills, miracle medicines are know to be harmful, yet people take them, so there are laws to safe guard the people.
Same with gambling laws.
I think admission of Singaporeans to Casinos should be by prescription slip issued by the NCGP, and do away with the $100.00 levy.
-
Originally posted by Bikeforceful:
it's all a matte of howmany stupid people we have.Yup, the more stupid the people, the more rigid the law must be.
-
huat ah.
-
CASINO LAWS TO BE AMENDED
More steps to protect problem gamblers
THE Government intends to tighten the laws governing casinos here. This is to guard against potential social ills while ensuring that the intergrated resorts (IRs) remain attractive tourist destinations.
Among new provisions to be introduced is one that will give the National Council on Problem Gambling the power to limit the number of times a financially vulnerable patron can visit a casino.
The aim is to have them curb their gambling behaviour before they become financially distressed.
In a comprehensive public consultation paper, the Government explained that as an extension of the existing casino exclusion measures, families and individuals will also be empowered to apply for a visit limit.
The council will also be given additional powers to deal with problem gamblers.
Another amendment could see the casino operators being slapped with penalties of up to 10 per cent of their total gross gaming revenue, instead of the current maximum of $1 million, should they be censured by the Casino Regulatory Authority.
There are also amendments that address casino crimes, casino operations and the sustainability of the integrated resorts as full-fledged tourism destinations, not just casinos with frills.
The two integrated resorts here have been operating their casinos for more than two years.
Resorts World Sentosa opened in early 2010 and Marina Bay Sands opened a few months later.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office S.Iswaran, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, said yesterday that the amendments had come after a comprehensive review and were aimed at enhancing the current legislation.
"The primary intent we have on the advent of the IRs in Singapore is to ensure that we have a sustained economic benefit to Singapore...We want to make sure that going forward , we have a systematic process to ensure that continues to be the case," he said.
The government is asking for comments and feedback on its proposed amendments. Public consultation will start on Monday, July 9 and end on Aug 6.
Members of the public can assess the public consultation document and draft bill at the Reach portal.
Feedback can be submitted to [email protected]
Local News watch, The New Paper, Saturday, July 7 2012, Pg 8
-
LPPL. why is there a need for 'visit limit' when you can ban your loved ones from going there?
-
Originally posted by dragg:
LPPL.
why is there a need for ‘visit limit’ when you can ban your loved ones from going there?
This is called giving you a choice.
You can go in 1 time, many times or not at all.
-
Originally posted by charlize:
This is called giving you a choice.
You can go in 1 time, many times or not at all.
to me its called wayang. -
Problem-gambling safeguards may target up to 6,000 S'poreans
SINGAPORE: The government said proposed measures, like setting casino visit limits, to protect the financially vulnerable from problem gambling may target some 4,000 to 6,000 Singaporeans.
And these may include the better-off who are at risk of gambling addiction.
The new measures are slated to kick in by June 2013.
Authorities will work with casino operators to identify those at risk of problem gambling.
These individuals will then be assessed to see if their visits to casinos should be limited.
- CNA/cc -
Originally posted by dragg:
to me its called wayang.First day living in sg?
-
set entry at one thousand dollars. Low income shouldn't be able to go in. Gamblers can control, smokers can control, drunkards can control.
-
if this new rule doesnt work will they introduce 'bet limit' next? targetted people can only bet $5 per game and to a limit of 20 games only?
-
Originally posted by dragg:
if this new rule doesnt work will they introduce ‘bet limit’ next?
targetted people can only bet $5 per game and to a limit of 20 games only?
You are ready to be a top class minister.
-
To ensure overall wellbeing of gambler, they can only bet between normal office hours of 9 am to 5 pm.
And they will have to get their mandatory 8 hours of sleep before they go to the casino.
-
betting in the casino was supposed to be a high class entertainment corner not so much on winning and losing. normally, pple lost their mind in there, possibly due to the 'negative forces/energy' for most. unless lky bet, otherwise you should not volunteer yourself
-
Life is surreal.
-
Originally posted by dragg:
if this new rule doesnt work will they introduce ‘bet limit’ next?
targetted people can only bet $5 per game and to a limit of 20 games only?
North Korea style works.
Foreigners only.
Of course, selected generals and certain level of officials are exempted.