SINGAPORE: The government will put in place more safeguards to protect Singaporeans from problem gambling.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) intends to expand its list of third-party exclusion orders beyond those who are bankrupt and on public assistance allowance.
Acting Minister Chan Chun Sing said these may include those who are receiving some form of government social assistance, such as a select group receiving assistance from the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare).
"What we want are targeted measures rather than very blunt measures that cut across different groups, which may not give us the necessary impact or which may cause unintended consequences," he said.
The ministry is also studying what it calls "circuit breakers", which are used by casinos in Holland, Australia and Austria.
They work by placing limits on betting machines, getting casinos to form dedicated teams of in-house experts on problem gambling and having a visitor registration system.
Mr Chan said: "If you look at the models which have been practised by casinos in either Holland, Australia or Austria, the casinos find that it is in their interest to also not have the pathological gamblers among their clientele...because it is also with their interest to promote responsible gaming."
Mr Chan said the new safeguards may be implemented over the next few months, in consultation with stakeholders.
He outlined these plans on the back of findings released on Thursday, showing that more low-income gamblers are betting large amounts while frequent gamblers and those with poor self-control are gambling more often.
These observations came from a 2011 Survey On Gambling Participation among Singapore residents, conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
The survey found that the proportion of low-income gamblers increased from 0.8 per cent in 2008 to 6 per cent in 2011.
These gamblers have an average monthly betting amount of more than S$1,000.
The survey said the overall median monthly betting amount fell from S$100 in 2008 to S$40 in 2011.
But the average amount rose from S$176 to S$212 over the same period, especially for low-income gamblers.
While the majority gambled with lower amounts, there was an increase in the number who betted large amounts.
This is especially so for the low-income gamblers.
The survey found that probable pathological gamblers (PPGs) betted more frequently.
A pathological gambler is someone who cannot resist impulses to gamble.
It said 68 per cent of PPGs gambled at least once a week, compared with 43 per cent for all gamblers.
PPGs are much more likely than non-PPG gamblers to have poor self-control in gambling.
They are likely to bet larger amounts, gamble more frequently and spend more time gambling.
These apply to horse racing, online and casino gamblers.
Overall, there has been a decline in gambling.
Forty-seven per cent of Singapore residents aged 18 years and above have participated in some form of gambling activity over a one-year period, lower than the 54 per cent in the 2008 survey.
Problem gambling rates are stable and have not changed significantly from 2008, based on the probable pathological and problem gambling rates for Singapore residents.
The pathological gambling rate for 2011 is 1.4 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent in 2008.
The rate for probable gambling for 2011 is 1.2 per cent, compared with 1.7 per cent in 2008.
Chairman of NCPG, Mr Lim Hock San, said the survey highlighted several focal areas to work on.
He said the council must continue to help problem-gamblers overcome their problem.
It must also continue to educate the public on the dangers of problem gambling, as well as ensure that there are adequate services in the community to help those who are addicted to gambling.
About 200,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) visited the two local casinos in 2011 but the novelty appears to be wearing off.
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) said 150,691 Singaporeans and PRs visited its casino from the opening date on 27 April 2010 to 31 December 2010.
In the year that ended on 31 December 2011, the number was 137,259.
The other gaming operator, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), said its entry-levy records show that the number of Singaporean and PR visitors at its casino fell from 199,783 in 2010 to 136,434 in 2011.
Deputy Chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Denise Phua, called for more transparency on the figures.
She said: "I think we do need more analysis of the data available. For example, besides the reports by the casino operators of the unique headcount of the visitors, I really want to know how many of them are Singaporeans versus PRs, how many of them are multiple visitors? I think that will help us decide the size of the monster and what kind of specific strategies to address this phenomenon."
MBS said it is committed to working closely with MCYS and NCPG to promote responsible gaming on its premises.
A spokesperson said MBS is committed to providing information and guidance to its guests on the rules and regulations that govern the casino environment in Singapore.
In addition to the social safeguards already in place, MBS has an in-house training programme to educate all team members.
It also has highly visible signages and educational posters in its Back-of-House areas as well as Responsible Gaming literature on its premises with phone numbers and information for patrons who need assistance.
MBS said it has noted the additional social safeguard measures being implemented by the Singapore government and will continue to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner with regulatory authorities.
RWS said it strongly supports the government's initiative to protect Singaporeans from pathological gambling. It also welcomed the measures to exclude recipients on social assistance from gambling in the casinos.
RWS said that as good corporate citizen and long-term establishment employing 14,000 workers in Singapore, it believes in improving the community it operates in.
It added that this philosophy underpins its advocacy for responsible gambling.
- CNA/ir/fa
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) intends to expand its list of third-party exclusion orders beyond those who are bankrupt and on public assistance allowance.
Acting Minister Chan Chun Sing said these may include those who are receiving some form of government social assistance, such as a select group receiving assistance from the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare).
"What we want are targeted measures rather than very blunt measures that cut across different groups, which may not give us the necessary impact or which may cause unintended consequences," he said.
The ministry is also studying what it calls "circuit breakers", which are used by casinos in Holland, Australia and Austria.
They work by placing limits on betting machines, getting casinos to form dedicated teams of in-house experts on problem gambling and having a visitor registration system.
Mr Chan said: "If you look at the models which have been practised by casinos in either Holland, Australia or Austria, the casinos find that it is in their interest to also not have the pathological gamblers among their clientele...because it is also with their interest to promote responsible gaming."
Mr Chan said the new safeguards may be implemented over the next few months, in consultation with stakeholders.
He outlined these plans on the back of findings released on Thursday, showing that more low-income gamblers are betting large amounts while frequent gamblers and those with poor self-control are gambling more often.
These observations came from a 2011 Survey On Gambling Participation among Singapore residents, conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
The survey found that the proportion of low-income gamblers increased from 0.8 per cent in 2008 to 6 per cent in 2011.
These gamblers have an average monthly betting amount of more than S$1,000.
The survey said the overall median monthly betting amount fell from S$100 in 2008 to S$40 in 2011.
But the average amount rose from S$176 to S$212 over the same period, especially for low-income gamblers.
While the majority gambled with lower amounts, there was an increase in the number who betted large amounts.
This is especially so for the low-income gamblers.
The survey found that probable pathological gamblers (PPGs) betted more frequently.
A pathological gambler is someone who cannot resist impulses to gamble.
It said 68 per cent of PPGs gambled at least once a week, compared with 43 per cent for all gamblers.
PPGs are much more likely than non-PPG gamblers to have poor self-control in gambling.
They are likely to bet larger amounts, gamble more frequently and spend more time gambling.
These apply to horse racing, online and casino gamblers.
Overall, there has been a decline in gambling.
Forty-seven per cent of Singapore residents aged 18 years and above have participated in some form of gambling activity over a one-year period, lower than the 54 per cent in the 2008 survey.
Problem gambling rates are stable and have not changed significantly from 2008, based on the probable pathological and problem gambling rates for Singapore residents.
The pathological gambling rate for 2011 is 1.4 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent in 2008.
The rate for probable gambling for 2011 is 1.2 per cent, compared with 1.7 per cent in 2008.
Chairman of NCPG, Mr Lim Hock San, said the survey highlighted several focal areas to work on.
He said the council must continue to help problem-gamblers overcome their problem.
It must also continue to educate the public on the dangers of problem gambling, as well as ensure that there are adequate services in the community to help those who are addicted to gambling.
About 200,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) visited the two local casinos in 2011 but the novelty appears to be wearing off.
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) said 150,691 Singaporeans and PRs visited its casino from the opening date on 27 April 2010 to 31 December 2010.
In the year that ended on 31 December 2011, the number was 137,259.
The other gaming operator, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), said its entry-levy records show that the number of Singaporean and PR visitors at its casino fell from 199,783 in 2010 to 136,434 in 2011.
Deputy Chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Denise Phua, called for more transparency on the figures.
She said: "I think we do need more analysis of the data available. For example, besides the reports by the casino operators of the unique headcount of the visitors, I really want to know how many of them are Singaporeans versus PRs, how many of them are multiple visitors? I think that will help us decide the size of the monster and what kind of specific strategies to address this phenomenon."
MBS said it is committed to working closely with MCYS and NCPG to promote responsible gaming on its premises.
A spokesperson said MBS is committed to providing information and guidance to its guests on the rules and regulations that govern the casino environment in Singapore.
In addition to the social safeguards already in place, MBS has an in-house training programme to educate all team members.
It also has highly visible signages and educational posters in its Back-of-House areas as well as Responsible Gaming literature on its premises with phone numbers and information for patrons who need assistance.
MBS said it has noted the additional social safeguard measures being implemented by the Singapore government and will continue to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner with regulatory authorities.
RWS said it strongly supports the government's initiative to protect Singaporeans from pathological gambling. It also welcomed the measures to exclude recipients on social assistance from gambling in the casinos.
RWS said that as good corporate citizen and long-term establishment employing 14,000 workers in Singapore, it believes in improving the community it operates in.
It added that this philosophy underpins its advocacy for responsible gambling.
- CNA/ir/fa
