Protecting its citizens

Interesting information on efforts to limit Gambling Addiction and protect families --

Suggestion to limit size of bet
Proposed changes to legislation garner supportive public feedback, which focused mostly on social safeguards


by Teo Xuanwei
Aug 18, 2012



The new exclusions will bar an additional 15,000 people from entering the casinos.
TODAY FILE PHOTO


SINGAPORE - Rather than stop at limiting the number of times a gambler can visit the casino in a month, there should be curbs on how much he can wager as well. The restrictions on the frequency of visits should also be on a weekly, rather than monthly basis, so as to deliberately space out the visits.

These suggestions were among the largely supportive feedback - most of which focused on social safeguards - gleaned in a month-long public consultation exercise on proposed changes to the Casino Control Act.

The Government's intent to better protect gamblers who are financially at risk by capping the frequency of their visits to the casino threw up concerns that the proposed change would spur these punters to place bigger bets each time they sat at the table or drive them to non-casino gambling, such as horse racing.

In a statement yesterday on the feedback it has received, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) said the casino operators currently already have a pre-commitment system in place for patrons to voluntarily set an expenditure or loss limit, even as it acknowledged the concerns raised.

The NCPG added that it is difficult to determine how long it should be between a gambler's visits to the casino.

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing also noted the concerns about "gambling intensity as a possible consequence" of the visit-limit system and said his ministry would "watch this closely".

He added: "If individuals intensify their gambling while on a visit limit, NCPG's Committee of Assessors will reassess and impose casino exclusion orders, if warranted."
This committee will comprise community leaders and social service professionals.

Respondents to the public consultation also felt the casino operators could do more to encourage responsible gambling. For instance, they suggested enhancing the voluntary pre-commitment system and called for counselling booths or "cooling-off" rooms to be set up within the casinos for at-risk gamblers.

Another suggestion was to make counselling mandatory as soon as one is placed under casino exclusion or visit limit, but the NCPG said this "would not be very helpful" because a gambler was "unlikely to cooperate" at that early stage.

To help families and problem gamblers, the NCPG has piloted since May legal and financial advisory services at three Family Service Centres - Ang Mo Kio, Hougang Sheng Hong and Tanjong Pagar.

The Government will study the concerns and suggestions in finalising the amendments to the amendment Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament at the end of the year.

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120818-0000047/Suggestion-to-limit-size-of-bet