Casinos face heavy penalties should barred persons enter gaming floors,Singapore Stock Market ,Singapore Stock Market news

SINGAPORE: The National Council on Problem Gambling will soon be sending out letters to over 28,000 people in Singapore barring them from the two upcoming casinos.

The majority are undischarged bankrupts while the rest are recipients of public financial assistance.

Casinos face a potentially heavy penalty should they breach the rule.

Singapore is the first country to automatically bar this group of people, under what’s called “Third—Party Exclusion Orders”.

Problem gamblers may also seek to exclude themselves from the casinos, and in the one month since applications were opened, 56 have done so. Applications may also be made by family members and so far, 19 exclusion orders have been issued.

The orders were issued by the council, but it is the casinos that will have to enforce the rule. And if they don’t, they face potentially heavy penalties. The Casino Regulatory Authority said it is a condition of a gaming licence that those barred from casinos not be allowed in.

Should it happen, the casino has two weeks to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken. A letter of censure will be sent out, and if changes are not made, the casino may lose its licence or be fined up to S$1 million.

These penalties also apply to situations where the casino operator is found “no longer suitable” to hold the licence, or if the casino was deemed “no longer suitable for the conduct of casino operations”.

The penalties may be heavy, but they suggest the seriousness with which the issue is being tackled.

Both casinos said they are working closely with the authorities to ensure no one slips through. Marina Bay Sands added that checks will be made at the door when Singaporeans and PRs pay entry fees.

It is notable that the gambler in question will not be criminalised. That is because such a move will not help the addict or his family, said the National Council of Problem Gambling.

The council has so far focused its efforts on public outreach programmes such as skits during the popular “getai” shows during the Seventh Lunar Month Festival, and television commercials.

It has also indicated it may in the future allow voluntary welfare organisations to nominate problem gamblers for exclusion.

One counsellor, Dick Lum said it is important for gamblers to take ownership over their problem.

He said: “It would be a bit hard for some counsellors to understand the circumstances surrounding the issues, so the best we can do is let them know to take up the exclusion order if they see it necessary.”

But the centre director for Christian Care Services also hopes that voluntary welfare organisations could play a bigger role when the casinos open.

Mr Lum has worked with families applying to ban a problem gambler and said in some cases, the gambler was persuaded to apply for self—exclusion instead.

He noted: “To have a gambler excluded by family members, you can imagine there are disagreements among family members and so forth. But if it’s coming from the gambler himself, it will be a different thing altogether.”