Singapore government wants tourists in casinos

This week, the government has come out and told casinos that their targets should be tourists, not local residents. The government is planning on creating tougher restrictions when it comes to the advertisement of the new gaming facilities, with the hope of curbing problem gambling cases in Singapore.

It has become clear that while casinos are making a big impact on the Singapore economy, it may be coming at a stiff price to many residents. Gambling addiction has been addresses in most areas of the world where gambling has been expanded, and the Singapore government wants to ensure that their citizens are protected against the dangers of frequenting a casino too often.

"The regulations will...be widened to cover not only advertisements but any promotion of the casinos," wrote Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Sports. Chan also stated he wants to make it, "crystal clear to both casinos that they cannot target the domestic market."

Analysts have predicted that Singapore is on its way to becoming the second largest gaming market in the world, behind Macau. Las Vegas used to hold that title, but with many Asian gamblers now choosing casinos closer to home, the power within the industry has shifted to Macau, and now Singapore.

The Chinese government has, in the past, had similar concerns to the ones being expressed by Singapore officials. The government in China placed visa restrictions on their mainland residents a couple of years ago. A few months after the restrictions were implemented; the government eased the laws, allowing Chinese gamblers to visit Macau casinos on a more frequent basis.

Singapore already has tens of thousands of gamblers on a self-exclusion list, and the government is working on a way to keep shuttles from running to and from the two Singapore casinos. Chan is hoping these safeguards help protect gamblers, but stressed that ultimately the responsibility of curbing problem gambling falls on the individual.