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Today,
14 Apr 04
The Aussie example and S'pore's casino
by Loh Chee Kong cheekong@newstoday.com.sg
Social ills can be avoided by regulating operators
EVEN AS Singapore mulls the possibility of building a casino in the
Southern Islands, a major debate has been sparked off on the social
problems that are traditionally associated with such gambling institutions.
And though the concept of "Casino Singapore" has yet to be finalised,
letters to newspapers and columnists are already worried about gambling
addicts, prostitution, money laundering and other such social ills
associated with casinos worldwide.
But sources from the casino and gaming industries told Today that
if Singapore does its homework, a lot of these problems can be avoided.
One such industry expert is Mr Francis Higgins — the international
business manager (SE Asia) of Skycity Entertainment Group — who has
been based in Singapore for 14 years as a casino consultant. He said
that one innovative practice in some Australian casinos is for compulsive
gamblers to ban themselves from the outlets under the "self-exclusion
programme".
Said Mr Higgins: "The ban lasts a minimum of one year. For it to be
lifted, they have to seek recommendations from a gambling counsellor
and a doctor to prove that they have overcome their addiction. It
is then up to the casino's discretion to decide if such gamblers are
fit to gamble again." But what if the addict does not realise he is
addicted? Mr Higgins said that casino staff are trained to look out
for the "danger signs" and can guide potential addicts to seek professional
help. Those who refuse to seek help can be banned. . Patrons are also
greeted with signs such as "Don't lose your head" or "Gambling can
be addictive", as well as contact information of organisations that
provide gambling counselling. These organisations are funded by the
casinos, which channel 2 per cent of after-tax profits to them.
Mr Higgins — who has set up nine casino ships off Singapore's waters
and has had projects in Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Cambodia —
added that rowdy behaviour is minimised through alcohol restrictions.
He said that waiters are only allowed to sell a maximum of two drinks
to each gambler in the first hour and one drink per subsequent hour,
with the state regulatory body fining the casino for violations. With
the state police on patrol outside, three or four such officials are
usually on duty around the clock inside the casino. These officials
are also on the lookout for loansharks and those intent on using the
casino for money laundering activities. Illegal moneylenders — who
operate in VIP rooms where the stakes are higher — are identified
and either banned or fined. Their membership to the VIP rooms will
also be revoked. Most Australian casinos restrict access to their
VIP rooms through membership while opening the other areas to the
public. And the authorities also monitor large cash transactions made
at the casinos.
Mr Anthony Ross, who has 22 years of experience in the hotel industry,
said that any cash transaction above A$10,000 ($12,679) has to be
reported to the respective state authorities. State and casino officials
are also on a constant lookout for prostitutes. "Close circuit cameras
are fixed at strategic locations such as entry and exit points as
well as at every table to monitor the behaviour of the visitors,"
Mr Ross said. And though the casino can finally retain the right to
deny access to any patron, Mr Ross believes that the real controls
are the ones the state puts on the casino. "The key is in regulating
the operators instead of controlling access to the patrons," he said.
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