M
Musashi Miyamoto
Guest
May 19, 2011
Resorts World fined $530,000 for Casino Act breaches
By Ng Kai Ling
Foreign patrons queuing to enter Resorts World Sentosa recently. Foreigners can enter the casinos here without charge while Singaporeans and permanent residents have to pay a $100 entry levy. -- THE NEW PAPER FILE PHOTO
RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) has been slapped with $530,000 in penalties for paying the casino entry levies for media representatives and not maintaining its surveillance system and processes to the standards required.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) said there were four breaches of the Casino Control Act which drew fines of $30,000 to $200,000.
The largest penalty was for an incident in July last year when a senior management staff member of the integrated resort coughed up more than $1,000 to pay the $100 entry levy for more than 10 reporters and photographers covering the launch of the casino's Ladies Club.
Under the Act, casino operators are not allowed to reimburse the entry levy payable by Singaporeans and permanent residents.
CRA chief executive T. Raja Kumar said: 'The disciplinary action taken serves to remind casino operators to act responsibly to uphold the integrity of social safeguards put in place by the authorities.'
The other three breaches also took place last year.
Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
