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AP,
17 Mar 04
Only the wealthy will be welcome at Singapore
casino
Tightly controlled Singapore is reconsidering its long-standing opposition
to casinos - but if it builds one, only the wealthy will be allowed
in, the Trade and Industry Ministry said Wednesday.
The government is thinking of building a casino as part of a complex
on Singapore's southern Sentosa Island aimed at foreigners and wealthy
Singaporeans, the ministry said in a written response to questions.
"If you are not of a certain economic class, you should not even think
of going there," the statement quoted Trade and Industry Minister
George Yeo as telling Singaporeans. "This is meant to attract international
gamblers who gamble on cruises, Las Vegas in the U.S., or Macau,"
Yeo added. He also instructed Singaporeans not to go to the casino
after work and housewives not to gamble when they are free during
the day, the ministry said.
The comments, made by Yeo during a community event on Sunday, were
reported by the local press on Wednesday. He also assured Singaporeans
that the city-state did not plan to become the Las Vegas of Asia,
the ministry said.
The ministry did not say what criteria would be used to decide who
could enter the proposed casino or how the rules would be enforced.
Although gambling is popular in Singapore, the government has been
reluctant to allow a casino out of fear it could encourage excessive
gambling and be used for money laundering by organized crime.
The ministry said it was weighing the social implications of a casino
and would put safeguards in place to deter criminals and limit Singaporeans'
access. In 2002, the island of 4 million people spent more than 6
billion Singapore dollars (US$3.5 billion) _ an average of S$1,500
(nearly US$900 per person) _ on lotteries, horse racing and other
types of officially sanctioned gambling, according to government figures.
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