Singapore to study gambling social safeguards

According to a report from Channel News Asia, the review was announced by Second Minister for Home Affairs, Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, and comes as Parliament debated amendments to the Casino Control Act.

Iswaran stated that Singapore already has one of the world's most extensive social safeguard regimes and promised to stay vigilant in order to ensure vulnerable segments of society remain protected from the potential harms of gambling.

Singapore currently has two integrated resorts and one proposed amendment to the Casino Control Act would see the government institute a limit on the number of visits permitted.

“We want the integrated resorts to continue to reinvest and upgrade their attractions and facilities, stay ahead of regional competitors and remain compelling world-class tourist destinations,” said Iswaran. “This way, they will create jobs for Singaporeans, attract more tourists and increase business opportunities for local SMEs.”

Iswaran said that Singaporean citizens comprise about 80 per cent of the resorts’ workforce but assured legislators that the government is committed to a broad-based growth strategy with no risk of the economy becoming dependent on gaming. He stated that the nation’s pair of resorts and their 22,400 employees accounted for approximately two percent of Singapore's gross domestic product.

Finally, he disagreed with some parliamentarians who had suggested scrapping the annual entry levy of us$ 1,630 after revealing that only about one percent of these had been purchased by locals.