Foreign workers form bulk of foreigners on casino self-exclusion

The NCPG said most of the applications by foreigners are made by foreign workers here on work permits and passes. It added that they did so with the help of their employers. Over the last four months, the number of foreigners who applied for self-exclusion from the casinos has gone up by more than 20,000 to hit 55,500. Some foreign workers told Channel NewsAsia they avoid the casinos as they cannot afford to gamble.

Almn Karim, a construction worker, said: "I know about the casino, but I don't have money, so I don't want to go there because if money is lost, (I'll have) many problems."
Kadali Sibayyea, a shipyard worker, said: "I don't have money, (so) I don't go (to the casino). I won't go there to waste my money."

Some companies like Tiong Seng Contractors also reach out to their workers to educate them on the ills of problem gambling. Andrew Khng, director of the firm, said: "When they are here, they are here for a cause, and the cause is to work, not on a game of chance. I think all employers also recognise that during the stage of construction, we cannot bear to have absenteeism.

"We actually came up with a plan and invited the NCPG to come on board to help us... When NCPG's counsellors came in together with my HR, we did a plan to go to the various worksites that we have and talk to the workers directly."

Khng said since they started the programme, some 70 per cent of the company's 1,000 foreign workers have voluntarily opted for self-exclusion.

Halimah Yacob, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "That is something they decided, something they work within themselves and their employers to exclude themselves.  "Everyone must assume personal responsibility not to dissipate their own hard-earned money and put themselves and their family in serious trouble because of that."

As at May 31, there were 93,029 persons barred from entering the casinos. Of the number, 27,882 were barred under third-party exclusions. Among the 64,000 self-exclusions, Singaporeans and PRs comprised 13 per cent while the rest were foreigners.