Q22:Will the Government be sharing the outcome of the RFC exercise with the public/media? Ans:To safeguard our competitive interests and to protect the uniqueness of ideas and concepts of potential investors, we cannot disclose details of the RFC plans. Any information, if released, would be on an aggregated basis.
Q21:Will the presence of a casino lead to an increase in law and order problems? Ans:The government has conducted study visits overseas and our law enforcement counterparts in other jurisdictions, such as Nevada, Australia and UK, have informed us that with a robust and stringent regulatory regime, casino-related crime can be kept under control. This is also borne out by findings that there is no relationship between crime and legalised gaming. In fact, the 2000 Public Sector Gaming Study Commission suggested that casinos are more of a crime deterrent than an instigator because the security on the premises of gambling facilities, the multiple layers of regulatory control and the economic and social benefits are effective deterrents to criminal activity.The New Jersey Control Commission also reported that in Atlantic City, the adjusted crime rate actually decreased from 69.9 per 1,000 visitors in 1977, to 52.6 in 1996. This was remarkable considering that the number of visitors increased by 400% during that period.For Singapore, we will put in place stringent regulatory controls such as imposing a tight licensing and screening regime for operators, and measures against money laundering, vice and illegal money lending. These would be similar to those imposed in leading gaming jurisdictions around the world which have successfully kept casino-related law and order problems under control.
Q19:What is the rationale of prohibiting casino advertising on local mass media? Ans:Currently, we restrict gambling advertising in the local mass media in a manner similar to smoking and tobacco. The same treatment would apply to casinos. The intention is to prevent glamourising gambling and inducing people to gamble.
Q20:What is the purpose of patron education on gambling? Ans:The purpose is to educate the public about the risks of problem gambling and where help can be obtained, as in the case for consumption of alcohol and tobacco. These measures would raise awareness among gamblers on the signs and consequences of problem gambling and encourage responsible gambling behaviour. Public awareness on problem gambling also empowers friends and relatives of individuals at risk of problem gambling to seek help for the gambler. Training for casino employees will enable them to identify patrons who show obvious signs of problem gambling and refer them for help.Jurisdictions in the US like Nevada require casinos to display information on problem gambling and help services in the gaming areas. They also have to implement staff training on problem gambling.
Q18:What is the purpose of having a system of voluntary loss-limits? Ans:A voluntary loss-limit system is a consumer protection measure which allows casino patrons to voluntarily set a gambling budget or limit their losses up-front in order to avoid over-gambling and chasing of losses. This system can be implemented with smart-card technology. Such a system has been put in place in the Crown Casino in Melbourne for its gaming machine patrons.
Q17:What is the rationale behind prohibiting casinos to extend credit to Singapore residents? Ans:This prevents Singaporeans from gambling on their future earnings or beyond their means. It is an extension of our current policy of not allowing existing gambling operators (i.e. Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club) to issue credit. Australian casinos are prohibited by statute from extending credit to residents.
Q16:What is self-exclusion? Is it effective in reducing problem gambling? Ans:Self-exclusion provides a person who is at risk of developing problem gambling the opportunity to voluntarily exclude himself from the casino. The self-identified problem gambler can then abstain from gambling, and seek assistance to control his problem. Self-exclusion policies are also in place in US and Australia.Exclusion by a close family member allows family members to request exclusion of a problem gambler from the casino. This empowers a family that is adversely affected by a problem gambler to seek assistance in curbing the problem behaviour of the gambler.We will also ask operators to implement consumer protection measures such as staff training on problem gambling identification and a system to allow gamblers to voluntarily specify loss limits upfront to reduce the risks of excessive gambling.
Q15:Why is the minimum age at 21 years old higher than the minimum age of 18 years old for other legal gambling activities (e.g. lotteries, sports betting, horse racing, fruit machines in clubs)? Ans:It would be prudent to set a higher minimum age for casino gambling to protect the young. Casino gaming involves table games and jackpot machines, which are characterised by rapid play, high re-staking rates and instant gratification. These characteristics make casino gambling appealing to the young. A higher minimum age also protects young persons whom research has shown to be more susceptible to problem gambling.
