| |
The
Straits Times, 23 Mar 04
Why no 'free for all' casino: BG Yeo on proposed
casino at Sentosa
By Rebecca Lee
S'pore wants a slice of high-end tourism pie, but not the crime, sleaze
- and social ills - linked to gambling, says minister
TRADE and Industry Minister George Yeo yesterday defended the Government's
plan to impose entry restrictions on Singaporeans if a casino is opened
here. At a dialogue with Bukit Batok constituents, Brigadier-General
(NS) Yeo explained the Government changing its stance in disallowing
casinos here when a resident asked how it would ensure the casino
not erode social values.
'For a long time, the Singapore Government has said that it will not
have casinos in Singapore. The reasons are very clear to us: Gambling
can be addictive. 'If husbands go there after work, housewives go
there and gamble with their family money - the money that is intended
for the kitchen and to look after the house and their children - then
there will be problems,' he said.
But globalisation and the desire to ensure Singapore remains a draw
for wealthy visitors prompted the Government's rethink. 'While we
want to attract international gamblers, wealthy people to come here,
I don't think we want to encourage Singaporeans to go and patronise
the casino when they cannot afford it,' he said.
The world is changing. Many Singaporeans already go to Genting, on
weekend cruises to nowhere and to Batam to patronise casinos. China,
for instance, is opening Macau up to international gambling to make
it the Las Vegas of Asia. 'All the top companies in Vegas will be
there. It will change the tourism map.' Singapore wants a slice of
the action, which was why it plans to link Sentosa with the Southern
Islands to develop a world-class resort that may include a casino.
But the Government is conscious of the social ills linked to gambling.
'We don't want to be a Las Vegas, we don't want to be a Macau, we
don't want to have the crime and the sleaze.' Emphasising that the
Government had not yet decided whether a casino would be opened on
Sentosa, he said that if there were one, there will be controls in
place to ensure that ordinary Singaporeans do not go there and gamble
away their 'family money'. It has not decided what these controls
are and is studying what is practised in other countries.
BG Yeo made it clear that this will not be a blanket ban on Singaporeans,
but more likely one where only members are allowed in. Unconvinced,
a resident asked about the seeming contradiction in the Government's
plan to limit Singaporeans' access when it acknowledged people already
go to Batam to gamble.
BG Yeo said the Government cannot stop people who choose to go outside
the country to gamble, but it will not make it easier for them by
making a casino accessible at their doorsteps. 'We can't say that
since we can't stop it, we will make it easier, then why don't we
have one in Bukit Batok East? Have it in the neighbourhood centre,'
he said to laughter from the residents. The dialogue capped the minister's
walkabout yesterday when he kicked off a soccer match, launched the
Bukit Batok East Youth Adventure Club, and officiated at the completion
of the Hoover Park Estate Upgrading programme.
Entry restrictions for S'poreans if casino
opens
By Rebecca Lee
TRADE and Industry Minister George Yeo yesterday defended the Government's
plan to impose entry restrictions on Singaporeans if a casino is opened
here. 'For a long time, the Singapore Government has said that it
will not have casinos in Singapore. The reasons are very clear to
us: Gambling can be addictive,' he said.
But globalisation and the desire to ensure Singapore remains a draw
for wealthy visitors prompted the Government's rethink. China, for
instance, is opening Macau up to international gambling to make it
the Las Vegas of Asia. Singapore wants to a slice of the action, which
was why it plans to link Sentosa with the Southern Islands to develop
a world-class resort that may include a casino.
Emphasising that the Government had not yet decided whether a casino
would be opened on Sentosa, he said that if there were one, there
will be controls in place to ensure that ordinary Singaporeans do
not go there and gamble away their 'family money'. |
|
