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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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