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Channel
NewsAsia, 21 Mar 04
Government not out to promote gambling with casino
By Hwee Goh
SINGAPORE : The government is not out to promote gambling even as
it considers plans for a casino in Sentosa. Instead, Trade and Industry
Minister George Yeo explains the government's approach is to have
a casino that is good for the economy, but without the sleaze.
Singapore will not be another Macau or Las Vegas, says Brigadier-General
(NS) Yeo, but the government is interested in the economic boost that
will come with high stakes gambling. If it does decide on a casino,
it will be on Sentosa and the southern islands - an area to be developed
into a playground for the rich and famous. "We don't want the crime
and sleaze. What we want is a facility in the southern islands which
is world-class, which stands out because of its special unique character,
and part of an international resort and residential development which
will help Singapore stay ahead in this competition amongst cities
in Asia," BG Yeo said "This is our objective, not to promote gambling
among Singaporeans. And to achieve this, to have our cake and eat
it too, we must have controls in place."
It may be an uphill task convincing Singaporeans why most of them
should be left out of such a casino -- membership may be one way of
controlling their admission. Meeting with Bukit Batok residents, BG
Yeo related how Singaporeans will go to Batam or get on a cruise ship
to gamble. But his point was that the government would never make
it easier for Singaporeans to gamble. If it did, he felt the number
of gamblers will increase "ten times". "Sometimes gambling can destroy
families. So on the one hand we want to attract international gamblers
to come here, we want to attract high, wealthy tourists to come here,
I don't think we want to encourage Singaporeans to go and patronise
these casinos when they cannot afford it," he said.
BG Yeo was quick to assure that many of the reasons for not wanting
a casino in Singapore still hold. Otherwise he said the government
might as well have a casino in Bukit Batok East. So the government
in its deliberations have to balance both issues -- how to have an
international casino, that is not at the same time nearby and convenient
to locals. Meanwhile, it is likely many studies will be done before
a decision is made. |
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