Govt has built elaborate social safeguard system against gambling ills: Minister

SINGAPORE — There is “no fool-proof system” that can eliminate the social ills associated with casinos and other forms of gambling, said Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran.

Thus, what the Government has done is to build “one of the most elaborate” social safeguards systems which others are beginning to study and adapt, he said.

Wrapping up the impassioned debate on changes to the Casino Control Act, Mr Iswaran, as well as Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, addressed concerns and suggestions raised by Members of Parliament which span social safeguards to the economic benefits that the two Integrated Resorts (IRs) have brought.

On calls to scrape the annual levy — described by Hougang MP Png Eng Huat as a loophole when compared to the daily levy — Mr Iswaran said it does deter those without the means to purchase the annual levy.

Of the total number of entry levies purchased by locals last year, about one per cent constitute annual entry levies — an indication that the cost of an annual entry levy does deter people from procuring it. Mr Iswaran stressed the entry levy system is one part of Singapore’s entire framework of social measures to protect “vulnerable” Singaporeans, which also includes exclusion orders, and starting next year, limits on visits to the gambling tables.

Despite the assurances, MPs expressed more concerns. Ms Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC) felt that the annual levy acts as “a volume discount”. Mr Iswaran replied the annual levy caters to premium players for whom daily levies are “cumbersome”, and reiterated that Singaporeans are not buying the annual levy as evident by the low numbers.

Addressing concerns over new limits on visits to the gambling tables for “vulnerable” Singaporeans, which MPs feared would increase gaming intensity, Mr Chan said a Committee of Assessors will decide on a third-party exclusion for individuals who intensify their gambling. The committee, in determining if there should be a Family Visit Limit, will assess whether the individual provides for the family financially, if there are signs of trouble such as absenteeism from work, criminal activities, and any demand letters from creditors.

Mr Iswaran said the Government will ensure a right balance between maximising economic benefits brought by the IRs, and minimising any adverse social impact caused by the casinos.

He said the IRs “create real opportunities for Singaporeans and Singapore companies”. He cited three examples: Mr Gwern Khoo, a humble duck rice seller who has turned into a promising talent at a celebrity chef restaurant at Marina Bay Sands; Mr James Tan, a 69-year-old retiree now enjoying a second booming career at Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa; and a local laundry company, Laundry Networks, now raking in the millions from contracts with both IRs.

“Ultimately, we want to create more opportunities for the Gwern Khoos, James Tans and Laundry Networks amongst us. The Integrated Resorts are one means of doing so,” said Mr Iswaran. After a two-day debate involving 18 MPs, Parliament today approved the amendments to the Casino Control Act.