More than one million visits by locals to casinos in resorts

It prompted Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa to ask if the integrated resorts (IRs) were going for the low-hanging fruit.

In response, Dr Balakrishnan said: "They are not supposed to go after the low-hanging fruit which the local market represents but instead to focus their efforts on bringing additional tourists from abroad."

The two casinos had operated shuttle bus services which ply the heartlands and released stories of casino winners to the media.

Balakrishnan said all these contravened the advertising regulations spelt out to the two casinos, leading to the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) to order an immediate stop to the shuttle services.

Balakrishnan also said that an inter-ministry committee, chaired by Senior Minister of State S Iswaran, would be formed to look into issues which may arise with the two IRs. "Our action conveys clearly to both integrated operators to confine promotional efforts for the casinos (to) tourists only," Balakrishnan said.

"We will not allow any promotions aimed at Singaporeans especially in our heartlands. The integrated resort operators have been reminded that they must comply strictly with our rules against casino advertising to locals," he said.

MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Christopher de Souza said the CRA did not seem proactive with regard to the issue of bus shuttle service.

"The CRA seems to be reactive rather than proactive in this," Mr de Souza said.

He also asked: "What can be done to ensure that the CRA is more proactive in future, and what are the repercussions for breaches of their orders, and has that been made clear to the IR operators"?

Balakrishnan said that the CRA had acted decisively against the two IRs. "We knew full well that we could make all the preparations, set the legislative framework and rules and transmit them and we can explain and re-explain the principles behind the rules," he said.

"However, from time to time, they will test the boundaries, and when they test(ed) the boundaries we have responded appropriately, decisively and quickly. However, because the profit motive is so strong, there will never be a final solution. There will always be a series of border incursions and a need to re-draw and re-emphasise that line," he said.

As a result, Dr Balakrishnan said the rules would be reviewed and tightened where needed. Meanwhile, the authorities are also putting in place a system for work permit holders to facilitate voluntary application for casino self-exclusion should they wish to do so.

Responding to media queries on such self-exclusion orders for foreign workers, the Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Council on Problem Gambling said under the Casino Control Act (Cap. 33A)), "any person regardless of nationality may apply for casino exclusion orders to the National Council on Problem Gambling."