Casino novelty 'wearing off'

QX179R SG

THE number of Singaporeans visiting the two local casinos is declining gradually - after higher-than-expected attendance in the past year since they opened, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan disclosed on Saturday.

This indicates that the novelty factor is 'wearing off', he said.

Meanwhile, his ministry is closely monitoring die-hard casino-goers, and may implement more safeguards to curb their entry into casinos, if needed.

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at an annual forum for contributors to Reach, the Government's feedback portal. He was joined by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Reach chairman Amy Khor.

Questions on the casinos and problem gambling dominated the 11/2 -hour forum, which was attended by about 150 people.

A university student questioned the effectiveness of the $100 daily entry levy in keeping Singaporeans out. Between April and November last year, $130 million in levies were collected. Last June, Marina Bay Sands said that Singaporeans comprised a third of the 25,000 punters who visited daily since its opening in April.

-- ST

QX179R SG

A close eye on things

'There is a small group of people who are going there very, very often. I'm watching that closely. And if need be, I will have to institute more measures for this group.'

Minister For Community Development, Youth And Sports Vivian Balakrishnan

Rock^Star SG

Well, just another day in the office to show singaporeans they're doing their job.

Singapore AFOL SG

From the start, I have objected to building a casino.

QX179R SG

More safeguards to be introduced to curb gambling addiction if needed: Dr Balakrishnan

SINGAPORE: Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has assured Singaporeans that more safeguards will be introduced to identify and protect those who are most vulnerable to problem gambling, if the need arises.

Dr Balakrishnan said this at a forum for contributors to the government feedback portal, REACH.

He added that the casino novelty amongst locals is wearing off and the number of residents at the casinos is gradually declining.

Still, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who was at the forum, said that it is important to keep senior citizens engaged to discourage them from going to the casinos.

Singapore's integrated resorts have been operating for over a year and concerns about problem gambling topped the issues at the Reach forum.

Dr Balakrishnan said the authorities have been keeping a close watch on the profile and usage patterns of those who frequent the casinos.

"Actually if I wanted to, I can tell you who in this room goes and how often you go, but I don't want to do that and that would be unnecessarily intrusive...taxi drivers will tell you, people who go there, they go there, they come back out, no money to even pay the taxi fare but they need a ride home to pay the money and then go back to the casino. These are warning signs."

Senior Minister Goh felt that older people have a different problem.

"Not because they have money but because they are bored...you go to the casinos to pass time the root cause is people who do not have interests in their lives," said Mr Goh.

A major programme in Singapore to ensure that senior citizens always have useful things in their old age is the Active Ageing programme. It is coordinated by the People's Association and also involves various community and welfare organisations in the country.

But Mr Goh said a long term solution is to ensure that the younger generation of today develop interests which stand them in good stead when they age. He added that there is also a need for Singaporeans to be more self reliant.

Mr Goh said: "How many of you followed the latest tragic events in Japan with the tsunami...and then put into context our floods in Singapore against that kind of disaster.

"I am not saying we shouldn't do anything about the flood. But the amount of noise you made with just sporadic flood compared to the Japanese. I saw them on TV. Very stoic looking. You don't see them crying. This has happened, just get on, that's the kind of spirit you want to have and you call it nation building."

-CNA/ac

Ice kosong SG

why no figure stated? - those who wen r either broke or bankrupt

"just get on, that's the kind of spirit you want to have and you call it nation building."

he needs the ghost spirits in buildin nation - wen those gamblers and family start jumpin to their death

Asromanista2001 SG

velly good...................

when they desperate, they'll start giving people $100 to go to casino.....................

i'll be there......................

Singapore AFOL SG

velly good...................

when they desperate, they'll start giving people $100 to go to casino.....................

i'll be there......................

U wait until sky drop.