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Govt mulls online gambling curbs

SINGAPORE — The Government is mulling new measures to restrict access to online gambling platforms, Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran said this morning.

SINGAPORE — The Government is mulling new measures to restrict access to online gambling platforms, sharing Singaporeans’ concerns over the growth of online gambling and its potentially addictive nature, Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran said this morning (May 10). Calling online gambling a “complex and rapidly evolving” landscape that Singapore has to address, Mr Iswaran went on to note that the global online gambling industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9 per cent. Asia is listed as “significant growth opportunity” in this area, estimated at US$400 billion (S$493 billion) in 2011. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is working with industry experts on the issue and learning from how other countries have dealt with the rise of online gambling. Mr Iswaran, who is also Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, added that “complete eradication” will be difficult due to technological changes but the Government “remains resolute in our commitment to protect minors and vulnerable groups in our society”. “Online gambling is a new and potentially more addictive form of gambling,” Mr Iswaran said at the Casino Regulatory Authority’s (CRA) annual workplan seminar. CRA Chairman Richard Magnus echoed the concerns, pointing out how social gaming on platforms such as Facebook and online football gambling are becoming “prevalent”. “Gaming products are multilingual and adaptive to the players culture,” said Mr Magnus. Mr Iswaran said that the Government is working with industry experts to study the issues and learn from other jurisdictions in order to formulate a strategy that will be “effective, relevant and sustainable”. The study should be concluded by the end of the year. In a Facebook post this afternoon, Mr Iswaran said it will take “a concerted effort by government agencies and community partners to tackle online gambling on multiple fronts”, which includes public education, engagement and enforcement. “MHA will, therefore, be working closely with the Police, Media Development Authority, Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Social and Family Development on this study,” he wrote. Mr Iswaran also addressed the questions if the CRA will be responsible for regulating online gambling. “It is too early to draw conclusions as to what role CRA or indeed any other agency will play in this effort, although CRA’s experience in regulating casinos could be useful,” he wrote. “We want to give our officials time to study the matter thoroughly, and consult relevant stakeholders before proposing specific action.”

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