By the year 2015 Singapore aims to attract some 17 million visitors annually and it is not betting only on its two casino developments to be the draw. The Singapore Flyer, which will be the world’s largest observation wheel, is scheduled to open in a few weeks and next September the first Formula One Grand Prix will be staged through the streets of Singapore. Next month the Singapore Airshow, another new event, will bring in foreign visitors.

Casinos are just part of Singapore’s attempt to remarket itself. With little in the way of natural attractions, the country has accentuated its shopping and nightlife offering as well as pushing hard to improve its share of international convention business. Tourism is expected to account for around 10% of Singapore’s GDP in the future (at present the figure is 3%), bringing in about US$20.7 billion a year. Hotel rates for tourists may be higher than they were but they still compare favourably with cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Singapore is already planning ahead to circumvent social problems when Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa casinos open their doors to the public in 2009. In place are the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the National Addictions Management Centre (NAMC). A group of experts, the International Advisory Panel (IAP), has been set up to advise on the issue.

The government has now moved to exclude people who are on public assistance or are undischarged bankrupts from the two casinos. Around 28,000 people will now be banned under the Casino Control Act’s Third Party Exclusion. Other forms of exclusion include Voluntary Self-Exclusion and Family Exclusion. An entry fee for locals, credit restrictions and gambling education will all help to minimise adverse effects of casinos in Singapore and maintain Singapore’s careful control of its citizens’ welfare. (E-01.22.08)

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