Gov't introduces tighter regulations for casinos
Casino membership drives, rewards and loyalty programs, lucky draws and contests will now come under greater scrutiny by the government.
In a move to ensure casinos do not target the local domestic market, these promotion measures will now come under the Casino Control (Advertising) Regulations, announced the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and Casino Regulatory Authority on Friday.
This means, with immediate effect, casino operators will have to seek approval from MCYS for all casino advertising and promotions, interviews and media releases and community sponsorship.
The authorities also noted that the "local domestic market" includes all Singapore citizens, permanent residents and foreigners living here.
Acting MCYS minister Chan Chun Sing said in the statement, "We have tightened the Casino Control (Advertising) Regulations to ensure that past events like the free shuttle buses from the heartlands, casino-related promotions at community get events, and website announcements of winners are not repeated."
Earlier, Resorts World Sentosa provided shuttle bus services from the heartlands to its casino and promoted a rewards program at heartland shopping malls. Marina Bay Sands, the other casino operator here, had also publicised casino winnings on its website.
The acts have since stopped.
"We will not hesitate to take the casino operators to ask should they contravene the regulations," he added. "The casinos are meant to be tourist products and should remain so."
Chan stressed that the government is prepared to "strengthen social safeguards" to ensure the domestic market is not targeted by casino operators.
Both casino operators told broadcaster Channel NewsAsia that they will work with the authorities to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Those who contravene the regulations could be fined up to $100,000.
