Twenty-three non-casino gambling operators on Tuesday joined Singapore’s centralised self-exclusion scheme, which now covers social clubs with jackpot machines and sports betting clubs.
Channel News Asia reports that the operators that have joined the self-exclusion scheme represent just about a third of the total number of non-casino operators in the city-state.
“This is a move to strengthen responsible gambling measures for non-casino gambling,” Patrick Liew, co-chairman of the Responsible Gambling Forum, was quoted as saying in the report.
The Singapore government decided to legalise casino gambling in 2005 as a way to boost foreign tourism. But the city-state introduced tougher regulations on responsible gambling and made it easier for local families to seek exclusion for relatives.
The new centralised system, launched in May, allows Singapore residents to voluntarily exclude themselves from both casino and non-casino gambling venues, via an online application. Prior to the new system, centralised self-exclusion only applied to Singapore’s two casinos.
Media reports say that there are about 70 non-casino operators in Singapore with a total of 2,000 jackpot machines. More operators are expected to join the scheme.
According to Channel News Asia, as of August 31, there were over 500 active non-casino self-exclusions, fewer than the 165,000 active self-exclusion applications covering casinos.
Singapore has two casinos, Marina Bay Sands owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp and Resorts World Sentosa of Genting Singapore Plc.
