Casino Control Act may soon have a "visit limit"
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Review of Casino Control Act to mitigate risks, ensure economic value: S Iswaran
SINGAPORE: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, S Iswaran, said the review of the Casino Control Act will help mitigate the risks posed by the casinos, while ensuring that the Integrated Resorts (IRs) continue to deliver economic value to Singapore.
Mr Iswaran said this in response to questions from reporters, on the sidelines of a community event on Sunday morning.
Among the changes being considered - a 'visit limit' to better protect vulnerable locals who visit the casinos frequently, a stronger licensing regime, and higher penalties against errant casino operators.
Mr Iswaran said the proposed changes will act as proactive social safeguards and anticipate issues that may crop up.
He said: "One aspect is the social safeguards, which have always been an important part of our efforts with the integrated resorts. And if you look at the social safeguards, they are trying to introduce new measures, some in a pro-active way, so that we are prepared, and in an anticipatory manner for issues that may crop up.
"Equally, we are looking at the issues pertaining to enhancing our enforcement and other sorts of enforcement on the ground and legislative capabilities, penalty regimes and so on. And that's again to ensure that we keep crime out of the casinos. And then, from an economic perspective, our objective has been really to ensure that the Irs -- not just in the first two or three years, but on an ongoing basis -- continue to deliver the total economic value proposition that we've been always expecting of them.
"I think it's also in the interest of the IRs to accomplish that. So there's a range of things that we are looking at - the legislation of amendments that have been proposed are part of that process and I think that we should work on an ongoing basis. Are there risks? There are. And all the measures we take are to mitigate the risks while enhancing the value proposition for Singapore."
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"ensure economic value"
i guess growing GDP is worth anything to them
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funny they asked S Iswaran to be in charge of the casino considering he is a muslim and forbade to gamble.
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You all don't get it. You think locals shut out of casinos? You people are meant to fuel the greatness and glory of Singapore's two crown jewels.
Look at how many companies from China were allowed to list on the stock exchange so that it can grow more prominent. And look at how many locals invested in them. Companies that can't raise money in China raised it here.
I would reject this law because dumb fuck gamblers don't deserve to be protected. Except that everybody else suffers loan shark problems.
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I hate casino... Casino made me lose a lot money within a year time... Don't understand goverment to prevent Singaporean into casino by $100 levy but to allowed casino into Singapore... Who are we going blame to?
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yeh whose ideal from it from? run out of ideas already - no wonder i call the creator - f2stops, 2 f-stops
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Originally posted by M the name:
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
More steps to protect glamblers - giving them more winnning chances ?