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Govt nets casino windfall
The Singapore Government has, for the first time, released figures on revenues collected from the two integrated resorts (IRs).
Between April and November 2010, the net increase to the government coffers was S$420 million from betting taxes and GST.
Separately, the Totalisator Board also saw a net increase of S$130 million from casino entry levies in the same period.
The numbers also prompted questions in Parliament on whether safeguards against problem gambling are working.
The S$100 levy that Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) pay each time they enter a casino goes to charities such as the Yellow Ribbon Project and Community Chest.
However, Lim Hwee Hua, Second Minister for Finance, noted that "the entry of the IRs has also led to a restructuring of the gaming industry as a whole. Hence, while the IRs have brought in new revenues, collections from other gaming activities such as lotteries, horse and sports betting and fruit machines operated by clubs have fallen."
Under the Casino Control Act, the IRs are not allowed to target citizens and PRs in their publicity materials. But the practice of one IR has raised some eyebrows in Parliament.
Seah Kian Peng, MP for Marine Parade GRC, asked: "They will do something on the website that says, so and so have won x dollars, and ask them to come back, or thank them for their patronage. Is that something we would want to encourage? Is that legal?"
Mr Seah was referring to the Marina Bay Sands website, which displays a list of past winners and their winnings.
He felt Singaporeans may be tempted to try their luck as a result.
In response, Marina Bay Sands said it has complied with the regulations on advertising, while the government said it is looking into the matter.
Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said: "They will want to publicise the wins; you will find that they never publicise the losses and the consequences of those losses on the gamblers and their families.
"So MCYS is taking steps to put a stop to that sort of asymmetric and unfair publicity which the IRs are embarking on."
Asked if employers of foreign workers could apply for their employees to be banned from the casinos, Dr Balakrishnan said exclusion will remain voluntary for this group, but the process will be made easier.
The Singapore Government has, for the first time, released figures on revenues collected from the two integrated resorts (IRs).
Between April and November 2010, the net increase to the government coffers was S$420 million from betting taxes and GST.
Separately, the Totalisator Board also saw a net increase of S$130 million from casino entry levies in the same period.
The numbers also prompted questions in Parliament on whether safeguards against problem gambling are working.
The S$100 levy that Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) pay each time they enter a casino goes to charities such as the Yellow Ribbon Project and Community Chest.
However, Lim Hwee Hua, Second Minister for Finance, noted that "the entry of the IRs has also led to a restructuring of the gaming industry as a whole. Hence, while the IRs have brought in new revenues, collections from other gaming activities such as lotteries, horse and sports betting and fruit machines operated by clubs have fallen."
Under the Casino Control Act, the IRs are not allowed to target citizens and PRs in their publicity materials. But the practice of one IR has raised some eyebrows in Parliament.
Seah Kian Peng, MP for Marine Parade GRC, asked: "They will do something on the website that says, so and so have won x dollars, and ask them to come back, or thank them for their patronage. Is that something we would want to encourage? Is that legal?"
Mr Seah was referring to the Marina Bay Sands website, which displays a list of past winners and their winnings.
He felt Singaporeans may be tempted to try their luck as a result.
In response, Marina Bay Sands said it has complied with the regulations on advertising, while the government said it is looking into the matter.
Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said: "They will want to publicise the wins; you will find that they never publicise the losses and the consequences of those losses on the gamblers and their families.
"So MCYS is taking steps to put a stop to that sort of asymmetric and unfair publicity which the IRs are embarking on."
Asked if employers of foreign workers could apply for their employees to be banned from the casinos, Dr Balakrishnan said exclusion will remain voluntary for this group, but the process will be made easier.
