Broken Promises of Casino?

[Goh Meng Seng]

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I have wanted to write about this issue earlier but couldn't get the appropriate "evidence" in time. But it seems that the PAP has taken a step faster than me this time round.

When PAP decided to build these two Casino Resorts (yes, I refuse to fool my readers on the true nature of these resorts by calling them "Integrated Resorts"), they have declared openly that these Casino Reports' primary targets are foreigners/tourists.

However, it seems that Casino operators do not agree with the government at all. This brochure from Resort World is distributed <span style="font-weight:bold;">ALL ROUND ISLAND</span>. It provides shuttle bus schedules which covers North South East West and Central.

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If we take a good look inside this brochure, we will find a total of 19 pick up points all over Singapore being served by this FREE SHUTTLE BUS service. There are two full pages of DETAILED schedule:

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Some may think that there is nothing wrong for Resort World to provide free shuttle service for Singaporeans who want to visit the Universal Studio. But wait, take a closer look at the time scheduled. On normal weekdays, the last bus leaving from most "terminal" bus stop is at 10pm while returning shuttle bus service also ends at about 10pm. However, during week days, the Universal Studio closes at 7pm!

During weekends or public holidays, the timing is even more absurd: last shuttle bus ends at 12am in some places while others ends after 2am! So who do these FREE SHUTTLE BUSES serve? Apparently, only the Casino operates 24 hours!

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The above are all documented evidences I have gathered. Marina Sands also provides Free Shuttle Service but I do not have the details. But Sands has the advantage of situated right next to the MRT station.

It is obvious that the Free Shuttle Bus service is aimed at local Casino patrons. Resort World seems to take the fastest step to "rectify" the situation by declaring that all <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1080242/1/.html">Free Shuttle Bus service to the heartlands will stop with immediate effect</a>. Is this a sign of self confession even before MCYS completes its "investigation"?

Well, does the fault lies only on the Casino operator?

It is unimaginable that the authority didn't know about all these scheduled free shuttle bus services at all. First of all, license needs to be issued to these buses to ferry the public. To run such scheduled service round island at different intervals, it will need at least 10 buses for these 5 zones. Did LTA know about such service?

The Free Shuttle Bus service has been running for quite a few months. (I first heard about it in May.) Brochures have been distributed island wide. There is even signboard tied on lamp posts at the respective pick up point!
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_97gTacH4hNg/TIkoEaVC_yI/AAAAAAAAAds/pH_A3e6ZPkg/s1600/CasinoTransport4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_97gTacH4hNg/TIkoEaVC_yI/AAAAAAAAAds/pH_A3e6ZPkg/s320/CasinoTransport4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514983274944069410" /></a>Photo from Channel News Asia Website

How could such an extensive operations escape the ears and eyes of this government? It actually takes months to react to it?

I am not too sure how the new law created specially for governing Casino operators say about those operators who breach rules on marketing the Casino to local patrons. But I think it is important for the PAP to keep up to its words that these two Casino Resorts are marketing aggressively to local population.

This Free Shuttle Bus service is just the tip of the iceberg. I was told that personalized letters to individuals have been sent to market the Casino. I was even told that credit card holders or some VIPs were given special privileges for visiting the Casino. Are they allowed to do all these local marketing?

Casino gambling is a vice, no matter what. While we ban advertising for things like cigarettes, why should such vice be allowed to be marketed to the people? Besides, PAP has reiterated that such Casino Resorts are meant for Foreigners and Tourists but it seems that this is not the case at all!

I am a staunch Anti-Casino person. I have delivered a <a href="http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2005/04/speech-presented-in-5-march-casino.html">speech back in 5 March 2005</a> to reason why Casino is bad for Singapore. The PAP has claimed that the successful casino in the world has 80% foreign patrons with only 20% local gamblers. But in Singapore, we have seen that the gamblers in casino here consists of 60% of local gamblers! But yet, they are still marketing the casino to local population!

Apparently, the Casinos have broken their promise of focusing on foreign gamblers. They are not keeping to their own term of success, attracting 80% of foreigners but instead, concentrating on marketing to local population!

The other area of problem is the huge amount of credits that the casino operators could grant to its patrons. We just realize that one Singapore businessman has lost $26milloin to the Casino. This is mainly because the Casino is all willing to grant credit to this man, almost unlimited credit.

I was told that as long as you could put up a $50k deposits, you could possibly get credit terms from the Casino!

My question is this, do Casino operators have any finance license to grant such big loans to its patrons? Are the present laws adequate to cope with such extensive loans or credits given by the Casinos? If Casino is allowed to grant such huge amount of loans/credits to its patrons, then it is apparent that it will become a big money lender as well! Shouldn't it be made to abide to existing finance law?

Most importantly, will PAP do something about it?

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Leongsam]

Most importantly, will PAP do something about it?

Goh Meng Seng

You sound like a typical Sinkie. You complain that the PAP runs a nanny state that controls all aspects of life but in the same breath demand that the govt exercises even more control over what is an entirely personal choice.

Nobody in Singapore is being forced to gamble. They do so out of their own free will and they have to be responsible for their own behavior and accept the consequences of their actions.

Demanding that the govt impose controls on gambling will makes you no different from the conservative muslims who force women to cover themselves from head to toe in order to deter sex crimes.

I can't help thinking that if the opposition loonies in Singapore gain power, Singapore will end up with it's own version of the Taleban where any activity which is deemed by people such as yourself to be "undesirable" is banned or severely restricted. You could start off by banning spaghetti straps and "bigini" tops. They cause undue stress on the male sinkie population.

 

[myo539]

I have wanted to write about this issue earlier but couldn't get the appropriate "evidence" in time. But it seems that the PAP has taken a step faster than me this time round..... we will find a total of 19 pick up points all over Singapore being served by this FREE SHUTTLE BUS service.

KNN, who is the one who complained about free transport to the Integrated Resort? Now I have to pay to jostle with the FTs and Bangladesh in crowded MRT train to get to the recreational places with my family and extended family.

The IRs are considerate and kind enough to provide free transport to make it more affordable for Sporeans to visit the places of attraction. What is wrong with us visiting IRs regularly to enjoy the fruit of our gahment creation with free transport thrown in to make it more affordable for us?

It is not as though the free transport is taking away the livelihood of MRT staff and taxi drivers. Must Sporean gahment always want to be a nanny to its citizens??? Isn't it insulting to its adult population? Apparently from this posting, Goh Meng Seng shares this idea for the PAP. The PAP MPs should thank him for it.

Provide free transport also cannot! What's this? Must we always pay in Singapore? How then can Singapore be more charitable?

 

[Leongsam]

Apparently from this posting, Goh Meng Seng shares this idea for the PAP. The PAP MPs should thank him for it.

Provide free transport also cannot! What's this? Must we always pay in Singapore? How then can Singapore be more charitable?

I honestly think Singaporeans should treasure the PAP. If you think they're overbearing, just wait till you get a taste of the opposition. Singapore will be worse than Saudi Arabia.

 

[Watchman]

If they don't start to do it ! They are sure to go under-water !

Then government will re-acqure the casinos !

 

[aurvandil]

The casinos have been failing to comply with key requirements of the Casino Control Act. The following is an example with regard to the display of odds. This is especially important for slot machines where the casinos can "tweak" the odds to milk unsuspecting gamblers of more money.


S'pore casinos should display odds of winning

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%...02-235120.html

YOU would probably have heard about the businessman here who lost over $26 million in three days of gambling at the casino in Resorts World Sentosa in June.

If the casinos play fairly, it would seem that he has no cause for complaint. But do they? Do the casinos follow the rules?

It is not well known, but the 1995 casino-bidding specifications state that "information on the rules of games and odds of winning must be displayed".


This is part of the Request for Concept's "Key Conditions and Requirements", under which casinos here agreed to operate.

The rule was carried forward to Section 106-1-b-(i) of the Casino Control Act, and requires casinos to "display prominently in the casino the advice or information concerning those rules, the mode of payment of winning wagers and the odds of winning each wager".


This would make our casinos the most transparent in the world. Atlantic City in the United States has a similar rule, but casinos there sidestep it by disclosing the odds in a way that is hard to understand.

The simplest method for disclosure is by revealing the "house advantage". This is the percentage chance that a casino has of winning, and is how casinos talk about the odds internally.

For example, roulette with a double zero has a 5.3 per cent house advantage. This means that, for every $100 bet that is made, the house takes an average of $5.30 and pays out $94.70.

This also means that the gambler pays $100 to get $94.70 back, which is a bad deal - as are all casino games.

It gets worse when the rate of play is taken into consideration.

For roulette, it is one spin of the wheel every two minutes.

So after one hour, a player can be expected to lose 80 per cent of his average bet. This is calculated as 0.947 raised to the power of 30, which equals 0.1952.

Thus, a gambler placing $100 wagers would see his money dwindle to $19.52 after an hour of play.

Our casinos would be the first ones anywhere to make this information available to players for all games, including slot machines. The move would increase competition and result in better odds for players.

The only problem is that it has not happened. Casinos have not displayed the odds, as required by Section 106-1-b-(i) of the Casino Control Act.

They should do so soon.

MR LARRY HAVERKAMP

 

[Watchman]

Image deleted

 

[myo539]

If they don't start to do it ! They are sure to go under-water ! Then government will re-acquire the casinos !

...and run it like Toto booths which are found all over the island, including every heartland?

I believe the revenue from toto and 4-D runs in the billions - probably more than what the casinos will earn? Where then is the need to protect or discourage heartlanders from gamblings?

 

[Ash007]

Sam has a valid point. GMS sounds like a lunatic that just say things that doesn't make sense. Casinos are there to earn a buck. Regardless of whether they are committed to "prevent" Singaporean from gambling or not. It is up to the government to have legislations in place so that they don't go overboard on this. The $100 entry fees from Singaporean should be redirected in highlighting the "dangers" of gambling. Why are you not harping on this instead? Its a bigger and easier target for you to make a fuss about the government. Then trying to say the government has broken its promises by allowing free shuttle bus services.

 

[rodent2005]

Sam has a valid point. GMS sounds like a lunatic that just say things that doesn't make sense. Casinos are there to earn a buck.

Both of you miss the point. The fact is the PAP has been trying to obscure the true and significant nature of these outfits by labelling them "Integrated Resorts" so as to appease the anti-casino voters. Why can't the PAP be open and call a spade a spade, and call the casinoes "casinoes"?

 

[Ash007]

Both of you miss the point. The fact is the PAP has been trying to obscure the true and significant nature of these outfits by labelling them "Integrated Resorts" so as to appease the anti-casino voters. Why can't the PAP be open and call a spade a spade, and call the casinoes "casinoes"?

Hence my initial argument, there are better points to put forward then the free shuttle buses.

 

[loloba]

KNN, who is the one who complained about free transport to the Integrated Resort? Now I have to pay to jostle with the FTs and Bangladesh in crowded MRT train to get to the recreational places with my family and extended family.

The IRs are considerate and kind enough to provide free transport to make it more affordable for Sporeans to visit the places of attraction. What is wrong with us visiting IRs regularly to enjoy the fruit of our gahment creation with free transport thrown in to make it more affordable for us?

It is not as though the free transport is taking away the livelihood of MRT staff and taxi drivers. Must Sporean gahment always want to be a nanny to its citizens??? Isn't it insulting to its adult population? Apparently from this posting, Goh Meng Seng shares this idea for the PAP. The PAP MPs should thank him for it.

Provide free transport also cannot! What's this? Must we always pay in Singapore? How then can Singapore be more charitable?

I agree with you on this. GMS should not take credit for RWS decision to stop giving free transport. The government investigating the free transport because our transport companies revenue are affected by the free mode. Something which RWS can do and our efficient transport are not able to do it. RWS can provide free transport for all who want to visit their resorts whereas our public transport will tell you that they lost 33 million for implementing the distance base fare. Our transport companies cannot even spare senior citizens and children over the distance base fare hike, they offered a one off payment of $20.00 with conditions, meaning to say not all senior citizen qualify for the $20.00 and only if you stay in Aljunied.

 

[fengshuisifu]

Great move by PAP to have Casino...GMS arugment..seems hollow..

 

[rodent2005]

Hence my initial argument, there are better points to put forward then the free shuttle buses.

If you read the rest of the article, he said free shuttle bus services is just tip of the ice-berg and went on to touch on several other points like generous credit given by the casinoes.

 

[fengshuisifu]

PAP is correct Sg are a complain KING..free also complain..packed also complain?nOBODY ASK u to go Casino?

I agree with you on this. GMS should not take credit for RWS decision to stop giving free transport. The government investigating the free transport because our transport companies revenue are affected by the free mode. Something which RWS can do and our efficient transport are not able to do it. RWS can provide free transport for all who want to visit their resorts whereas our public transport will tell you that they lost 33 million for implementing the distance base fare. Our transport companies cannot even spare senior citizens and children over the distance base fare hike, they offered a one off payment of $20.00 with conditions, meaning to say not all senior citizen qualify for the $20.00 and only if you stay in Aljunied.

 

[sinren67]

My inside story: very soon, they will be some changes on local entry to casino.

Currently, local needs to pay $100 for a 24 hr-entry. Now they plan to have a below $100 (between $20 to $50) for a 6-hour entry. Thus, govt will claim this will makes thing easier for local to accompany their oversea friends to casino.

With this revised policy: more ppl will jump into the tracks which cause transport disruption, more social workers will be needed, more broken families, etc. I expect casket biz to flourish, and i think already is.

 

[Leongsam]

With this revised policy: more ppl will jump into the tracks which cause transport disruption, more social workers will be needed, more broken families, etc. I expect casket biz to flourish, and i think already is.

People who are dumb enough to gamble their life savings away deserve to die a horrible death for the crime of extreme stupidity.

 

[aurvandil]

If you read the rest of the article, he said free shuttle bus services is just tip of the ice-berg and went on to touch on several other points like generous credit given by the casinoes.

CRA implemented rules to try and reduce the incidence of problem gambling.


Unfortunately, these restrictions have been cleverly bypassed. The main way of doing this is via rolling credit. This is offered to gamblers which the casino has identified as big gamblers based on their gambling patterns recorded in their card.


These big gamblers are advised to make a deposit (e.g. $50,000). After making a deposit, they are given a rolling “commission” based on the amount they play. This commission ranges from 0.5% to 1.0% of the gambled amount.


To earn what seems like “free money”, many big gamblers are enticed to make the deposit. In doing so, they are consistently tempted to gamble with more money than they had originally planned to gamble by drawing down on the deposit.


When the deposit is exhausted, the casino will usually offer to extend credit to allow the gambler to continue gambling. The amount extended will depend on the credit check done by the casino when the initial deposit is made.


Hence beyond operating a casino, the casino is also involved a lucrative money lending business. At this point in time, it is unknown what are the charges the casinos are levying for providing this credit. It is however likely that this makes up a significant portion of the record profits that have recently been reported.

 

[Tan Kim Kim]

I honestly think Singaporeans should treasure the PAP. If you think they're overbearing, just wait till you get a taste of the opposition. Singapore will be worse than Saudi Arabia.

See? Even Sam cannot tahan GMS now, look at the damage GMS done to himself by spending most of his time toking cock here

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Dear Sam and others,

It is not my promise to keep the local population out of gambling woes. It was PAP's promise, in order to win support for building these Casino Resorts, that it could possibly set rules and regulations to keep the locals out of casino gambling woes. Thus, we see $100 levy and such.

Most importantly, they claim that the Casino can survive like those successful model with 80% foreign patrons and onl 20% locals. But they have fallen short of these promises.

My job as opposition politician, is to keep the ruling party in check on what they have promised. I didn't create that kind of promises, rules and regulations to win support from Singaporeans. If the Casinos or PAP are trying to break their promises, then it is only right for me to raise these issues. I am simply playing my role.

Goh Meng Seng