The Singapore government is conducting a review of the city-state’s Casino Control Act (CCA)—with a view to possible tightening of rules to protect low-income and high frequency local gamblers—said an official in the prime minister’s office this week.
“We need to look at whether any specific amendments are required in order to address—whether it is very high frequent gamblers—what kind of regulatory tools we have at our disposal to address some of the concerns of that regard, as well as the financially distressed groups as well,” said Minister S. Iswaran in comments reported by local television station Channel News Asia.
The review of the CCA should be completed by the second half of this year, reported the channel. The announcement comes only days after the second anniversary of the opening of the first of Singapore’s two casino resorts—Resorts World Sentosa. The review is expected to look at how other jurisdictions such as Australia—predominantly a slot rather than live table market—tackle perceived problem gambling.
Michael Leven, President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp—which developed and runs Singapore’s other casino property Marina Bay Sands—said in an interview with Inside Asian Gaming last year the company had been told by Singapore government sources that as long as no more than 30% of its resort customers were Singaporeans then “it shouldn’t be a problem”. But MPs and some government officials have talked about concerns that some locals are getting into difficulties with their gambling.
“Responsible gaming is an important aspect of the entire integrated resorts and responsible is not just about regulation, it is also about the operators themselves, stepping up as good corporate citizens,” said Singapore’s Minister Iswaran, whose job brief covers home affairs and trade and industry.
“If you look at the practices around the world, if you look at Australia and if you look at some of the other countries, they are an important part of the equation,” he added.
A report by Australia’s Productivity Commission in 2011 noted that all of Australia’s (state-based) gaming jurisdictions require venues to display warnings on their gaming machines about the potential risks of gambling and behaviours indicative of problem gambling. But the Commission pointed out the method of delivering the warnings varied from state to state.
“For example, New South Wales and Victoria have developed formats to attract gamblers’ attention, and Victoria and Queensland have rolled out a series of warning messages that include prominent visual components,” said the Productivity Commission.
“Most jurisdictions have a number of approved warning messages that are placed on electronic gaming machines. South Australia has a unique approach, with warning signs being rotated over time,” it added.
But a public hearing on South Australian gambling laws heard some hotels and clubs were failing to comply with even this requirement, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in October last year. Were Singapore to introduce elements of the Australian warning system for the gaming machines in its casinos it seems likely that the system chosen would be closely enforced.
“Many of them [gaming operators] understand very clearly that they have to be ensuring a responsible gaming regime as part of the overall evolution of the market because commercially or in terms of their standing in the community, it is not in their interest to have some of the egregious aspects become a problem in the community at large,” said Minister Iswaran.
“The government has a role to play as well. We need to define clearly what our expectations are. Some of these can be achieved through rules and new legislation or regulations. Some of these would have to be working with the community groups, the National Council for Problem Gambling and other interested parties, and the casino operators working together to implement some of these schemes,” he added.
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