THE shuttle-bus services offered by the two integrated resorts (IRs) were among several infractions against regulatory guidelines, prompting the Government to investigate them, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), said in Parliament yesterday.
The network of bus services provided by Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands was halted by the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) last Friday.
Dr Balakrishnan also revealed that Resorts World Sentosa had promoted casino rewards programmes in heartland shopping centres and at Hungry Ghost Festival events. It had also released stories of casino winnings to the media, he added.
He was responding to a question from MP Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) on whether the bus services had attracted more Singaporeans to the casinos and if they had resulted in an increase in problem- gambling cases in the neighbourhoods.
Explaining the CRA's intention in shutting down the bus services, Mr Balakrishnan said: "Our action conveys a clear signal to both IR operators to confine promotional efforts to tourists.
"The IR operators have been reminded that they must comply strictly with our rules against casino advertising to locals.
These rules will be tightened as necessary in the light of experience," he added.
Since Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands opened in February and April respectively this year, they have attracted more than one million local visitors, Dr Balakrishnan said, adding that numbers are "stabilising as the novelty wears off".
The Marina IR had been offering a shuttle-bus service at 12 pickup points in the Central Business District (CBD) and Orchard areas.
While it charged premium fares, these were redeemable at its food-and-beverage outlets, some of which were located in the casino. Resorts World Sentosa, on the other hand, provided free shuttles at 19 pickup points, with some of them located in the heartland.
These services operated late into the night, when most of the IR's other facilities would be closed.
"Both IRs will now be allowed to provide transport for passengers only from specific touristlinked destinations listed in the Casino Control (Advertising) Regulations, and only with prior approval from the CRA," said Dr Balakrishnan.
In his reply to Mr Liang, the minister also emphasised the need to remind both casinos that "they are not supposed to go after the low-hanging fruit which the local market represents", but to instead focus on attracting tourists.
Most importantly, grassroots organisations must constantly strive to improve awareness of problem gambling in the community.
Dr Balakrishnan also disputed suggestions by MP Christopher de Souza (Holland- Bukit Timah GRC) that the CRA had been "reactive rather than proactive" in regulating both casinos.
"If nothing else, this episode has shown that the CRA will act decisively and quickly if the need arises," he stressed.
"It's far more important to make sure that there is a robust system of rules and regulations and that the operators understand the thinking behind these rules."
As for MP Halimah Yacob's (Jurong GRC) concerns about work-permit holders frequenting the casinos, Dr Balakrishnan disclosed that MCYS and the Ministry of Manpower will work together to facilitate the signing of self-exclusion orders by these workers.
Also, Mr S. Iswaran, the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, will chair a new committee that will look at future issues "holistically and comprehensively, taking into account the relevant concerns of all the different ministries", added Dr Balakrishnan.
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