You want Casino?
-
our neighbours copied us when we built a world class airport, and guess what mr opposition, they failed. if that's the case, how come you don't see KLIA recieving as much business as changi? regarding HK disneyland, i think most sane and MATURE adults would rather go to a casino that HK disneyland to look at silly disney characters waddle around making a fool of themselves. if gambling does indeed corrupt society you would see reports of all kinds of crime in vegas, mcau, monaco and genting. as for myself, i have yet to witness any crime in vegas or any decrease in the "morality" of the vegas residents. if all the far sighted leaders shared your over-conservative point of view las vegas would still be a dead desert town today, monaco would be as poor as the eastern bloc states, even poorer.Originally posted by goh meng seng:Thank you Patrick.
You have hit the right points.
Then every countries around us will build a casino; who will be the suckers eventually?
Goh Meng Seng -
look retard..whoever said about restricting access to people who mak more than 500k a year? if thats the case i think no more than 1000 singaporeans would be allowed in. don't try to change the topic and twist facts, u retard.Originally posted by sarek_home:If what you said is true, will the casino builder promise at least $500 millions in gambling tax each year for next 10 years and no local earn less than $500K per year can go in? If it is a sure win, why not?
"Common Sense" worth nothing. If that "common sense" is so solid, make that at least $500 millions in gambling tax each year for next 10 years promise. This is the acid test for such "common sense". -
Yoh vito_corleone, try to cool down abit.... discuss things... dun let this fruitful discussion blow into a flaming session by needless name calling....
Thanks for your help -
yo greengoblin, no insult was meant nor were the posts in any way an attempt to heat things up. this is still a logical, cool headed debate and i'm all up for it.Originally posted by greengoblin:Yoh vito_corleone, try to cool down abit.... discuss things... dun let this fruitful discussion blow into a flaming session by needless name calling....
Thanks for your help -
Thanks Buddy
-
I quote the first sentence from goh meng seng first post "It is strange indeed. Nobody in his right mind would want their children to be gamblers but there are people who would support Casino!".
For a person who had seen many families had been broken because of the gambling habit of a family member, it is disheartening to see the many legalised gaming outlets in Singapore. It is alarming to see the looming casino in Singapore.
Just wandering how many who support the casino had seen the sorry state of the broken families of a gambler?
Who is behind the existing legalised gaming organisations and clubs? Government = Singaporean. Are we given a chance to object?
Yes, there are jackpot machine around but are sort of controlled and limited in number in each of the gaming outlets. The illegal ones are being hunt down relentlessly. The government has sort of "limit / control" the fallouts from these gaming outlets. Just like prostitution, legalised but not advertised.
This is not true of casino.
Do you want to be tested, be a gambler, be an addicted gambler, and let your family members suffer the consequence? You think you are mature enough to resist the lure.
Do you think your children will be mature enough to resist the temptation and pass the test?
I do not think I will/can. But I am very concerned for those who will try, now that it is so near, make so attractive, with a lot of covers like family theme etc, and sanctioned by the highest authority, the "government = singaporean". -
Which referendem shows "majority of the population support casino"? Please don't equate a survey as referendem. Survey results change depend on sampling groups.
quote:Originally posted by stupidissmart:
If u r mature thinking people, u will let tough decision be based on the view of the majority of the people. Since majority of the population support casino, then being mature thinking people we accept tat decision. -
Is casino a sure win? This example tells us why no casino investor will dare to promise $500 million a year gambling tax.
http://www.canada.com/businesscentre/story.html?id=05643b5c-6110-40e9-89b6-9ccb5949086f
Court approves Trump Hotels & Casino's bankruptcy finance package
Canadian Press
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
ADVERTISEMENT
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey bankruptcy judge has approved a $100-million-US loan to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. and cleared the way for the casino operator to use the cash in its coffers as it reorganizes under court protection.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judith Wizmur said she would sign off on the financing arrangements, but allow an official committee of equity holders to object. No such panel has yet been named, but lawyers from the Office of the U.S. Trustee said Wednesday the federal agency is soliciting shareholders to sit on a panel in the case.
The casino company controlled by real estate magnate Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy protection in November after months of negotiations with bondholders over restructuring a crushing debt.
The bankruptcy filings listed debt of about $1.8 billion, which Trump said would be cut by $500 million as part of the restructuring.
The Trump casino business consists mainly of three Atlantic City properties and a riverboat casino in Indiana and are only a small part of Trump's overall real estate empire. -
if this was the case then the big boys like MGM group would not be thriving. no doubt trump successful in real estate, and he should stick to that instead of tring to fight it out with the big boys in vegas, its just like singapore's army trying to fight..lets say the US army head on.Originally posted by sarek_home:Is casino a sure win? This example tells us why no casino investor will dare to promise $500 million a year gambling tax.
http://www.canada.com/businesscentre/story.html?id=05643b5c-6110-40e9-89b6-9ccb5949086f
Court approves Trump Hotels & Casino's bankruptcy finance package
Canadian Press
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
ADVERTISEMENT
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey bankruptcy judge has approved a $100-million-US loan to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. and cleared the way for the casino operator to use the cash in its coffers as it reorganizes under court protection.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judith Wizmur said she would sign off on the financing arrangements, but allow an official committee of equity holders to object. No such panel has yet been named, but lawyers from the Office of the U.S. Trustee said Wednesday the federal agency is soliciting shareholders to sit on a panel in the case.
The casino company controlled by real estate magnate Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy protection in November after months of negotiations with bondholders over restructuring a crushing debt.
The bankruptcy filings listed debt of about $1.8 billion, which Trump said would be cut by $500 million as part of the restructuring.
The Trump casino business consists mainly of three Atlantic City properties and a riverboat casino in Indiana and are only a small part of Trump's overall real estate empire. -
===============
http://www.chicagoflame.com/news/2003/11/18/NewsBriefs/Illinois.Official.Negotiates.Deal.To.Sell.Bankrupt.To.Sell.Bankrupt-559743.shtml
Illinois official negotiates deal to sell bankrupt to sell bankrupt
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Article Tools:Email This ArticlePrint This Article Page 1 of 1
A settlement brokered between the state and the bankrupt Emerald Casino is a step forward in ensuring integrity in the Illinois gambling industry, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.
===============
http://www.casinoman.net/Content/casino_gambling_news/gambling_news_article.asp?artid=1319
ews Article
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Planet Hollywood CEO, Starwood venture to buy bankrupt Aladdin casino
Date entered: 24/04/2003
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Aladdin Gaming LLC has agreed to sell its bankrupt Las Vegas casino-hotel to a joint venture involving Planet Hollywood's co-founder and the Starwood hotel chain.
The deal announced Wednesday calls for the Arabian Nights-themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip to be branded as Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino. The property will be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc. through its Sheraton hotel brand. Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl and New York investment firm Bay Harbour Management LC also are members of a member of the venture.
===============
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-10-Thu-2003/business/21700400.html
Castaways faces hurdles in saving bankrupt casino
Property has failed to thrive following purchase in 2000
By JEFF SIMPSON
GAMING WIRE
The letters atop the Showboat are removed in March 200 to make room for the prperty's new Castaways name. File photo by Gary Thompson.
Ask most longtime Las Vegans about the recent bankruptcy filing by the Castaways, and they ask if you're talking about the Showboat.
Even some Castaways customers still call the Fremont Street property by its former name, the property's owners said. -
Harms of Legalized Gambling
by Ken W. Karouzos, Legislative Coordinator
http://www.azpolicy.org/html/legalizedgambling.html
Numerous research studies and other statistical information have identified a strong link between our nationÂ’s recent increase in legalized gambling and increased societal problems. These problems include increased bankruptcies, suicides, addictions, divorce, child abuse, domestic violence and the exploitation of the poor.
Increased Bankruptcies.
Bankruptcies during the mid- and late-1990Â’s have approached record levels despite their paradoxical occurrence during a period of sustained economic growth.
A national study found that counties having at least one gambling establishment averaged 18% more bankruptcies than those counties without gambling. If the county had five or more gambling facilities, the increased rate was 35% higher.[1]
A five-year Iowa study found that counties having a casino, racetrack or riverboat casino had a bankruptcy rate averaging 21% higher than the rest of the state.[2]
Nevada, being the 35th most populous state, ranks 4th in terms of total bankruptcies.[3]
Atlantic County, New Jersey, home of Atlantic City, has a substantially higher bankruptcy rate than any of New JerseyÂ’s 21 other counties. Prince George's County, Maryland, the only Maryland county where casino gambling was legal in 1996, bankruptcies rate was also substantially higher when compared to MarylandÂ’s 24 other counties.[4]
Of CaliforniaÂ’s 58 counties, the two with the highest bankruptcy rates, Riverside and San Bernardino, are both adjacent to Las Vegas.[5]
Gambling-related bankruptcies in metro Detroit increased by as much as 40-fold within a year and a half of the opening of Casino Windsor.[6]
Various studies of pathological gamblers show that 20% or more eventually file for bankruptcy.[7]
Increased Suicides.
Gambling-related suicides are becoming an increasingly common. The extent of this phenomena remains largely unrecognized due to reasons ranging from a desire by family members to protect privacy to attempts by suicide victims to make their deaths appear accidental for insurance purposes. Even so, the evidence paints a grim picture of the depth of despondency which often accompanies gambling habits.
According to University of California-San Diego sociologist Dr. David Phillips, Las Vegas “displays the highest levels of suicide in the nation, both for residents of Las Vegas and for visitors to that setting.” In Atlantic City, N.J., Phillips found that “abnormally high suicide levels for visitors and residents appeared only after gambling casinos were opened.”[8]
In Gulfport, Mississippi, suicides increased by 213% (from 24 to 75) in the first two years after casinos arrived. In neighboring Biloxi, suicide attempts jumped by 1,000% (from 6 to 66) in the first year alone.[9]
The National Council on Problem Gambling, citing various studies, reports that one in five pathological gamblers attempts suicide and that this rate is higher than for any other type of addictive disorder.[10]
At least 140 clients at MinnesotaÂ’s six gambling addiction treatment centers have attempted suicide, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.[11]
A survey of nearly 200 Gamblers Anonymous members in Illinois found that 79% had wanted to die, 66% had contemplated suicide and 45% had a definite plan to kill themselves.[12]
The Illinois Council on Compulsive Gambling reports that more than 20 Illinois residents have killed themselves as a result of a gambling addiction since the arrival of riverboat casinos.[13]
Increased Gambling Addictions.
Gambling promoters frequently maintain that there is little, if any, relationship between the availability of gambling and gambling addiction. However, testimony from experts and data from gambling communities indicate otherwise.
The number of Gamblers Anonymous chapters in the United States has nearly doubled in the last eight years.[14]
According to Dr. Rachel Volberg, researcher who has overseen the majority of compulsive gambling prevalence surveys in the United States, gambling problems have increased noticeably in recent years as gambling has become more widely available.[15]
The percentage of Minnesota adults who demonstrated a serious gambling problem climbed 76% from 1990 (the year when Minnesota introduced its lottery) to 1994 (the year when a 17th Minnesota casino began operations).[16]
The percentage of Iowa problem and pathological gamblers rose by over 300% over the six-year period after casinos began operations.[17]
A court-ordered temporary shutdown of video lottery machines in the state of South Dakota resulted in a drastic reduction of people seeking treatment for gambling addictions. Before the machines were shut off, addiction treatment centers averaged 11 gamblers treated per month. During the shut down, the average monthly number of plummeted to less than one per month. Once the machines resumed operations, the average monthly number immediately jumped to 8.[18]
The percentage of New York individuals who reported having had a gambling problem increased 74% during the decade when gambling opportunities greatly expanded.[19]
In Oregon, the number of Gamblers Anonymous chapters increased 1,000% within five years of the introduction of video poker machines.[20]
Increased Divorces
28% of Gamblers Anonymous members reported being separated or divorced as a direct result of their gambling.[21]
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported that it received "abundant testimony and evidence that compulsive gambling introduces a greatly heightened level of stress and tension into marriages and families, often culminating in divorce and other manifestations of familial disharmony."[22]
A nationwide survey of divorced adults found that “2 million adults identified a spouse's gambling as a significant factor in their prior divorce.”[23]
The number of divorces in Harrison County, Mississippi, which is home to ten casinos, has increased by almost 300% since the introduction of casinos.[24]
Increased Child Abuse and Neglect
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported: "Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling."[25]
In Indiana, a review of the state's gaming commission records revealed that 72 children were found abandoned on casino premises during a 14-month period.[26]
In Louisiana and South Carolina, children died after being locked in hot cars for several hours while their caretakers gambled.[27]
An Illinois mother suffocated her infant daughter in order to collect insurance money to continue gambling.[28]
Cases of child abandonment at one of the nation's largest casino, “Foxwoods” in Ledyard, Connecticut, became so commonplace that authorities were forced to post signs in the casino's parking lots warning parents not to leave children in cars unattended.[29]
Increased Domestic Violence
According to the National Research Council, studies indicate that between 25% and 50% of spouses of compulsive gamblers have been abused.[30]
Mississippi domestic violence shelters reported increases between 100% and 300% in requests for assistance after the introduction of casinos on Mississippi's Gulf Coast,.[31]
A University of Nebraska Medical Center study concluded that problem gambling is as much a risk factor for domestic violence as alcohol abuse.[32]
Domestic violence murders in at least 11 states have been traced to gambling problems since 1996.[33]
Increased Rates of Overall Crime
The crime rate in Minnesota counties with casinos increased more than 200% faster than counties without casinos.[34]
The overall number of crimes within a 30-mile radius of Atlantic City increased over 100% during the nine years following the introduction of casinos.[35]
AU.S. News & World Report analysis found average national crime rates in casino communities to be 84% higher than communities without casinos.[36]
The number of court cases filed in Tunica County, Mississippi, increased by over 1,600% during the five-year period after casinos began operating.[37]
The annual number of police calls to the Ledyard, Connecticut, jumped over 400% within the five years after the opening of the nearby Foxwoods Casino.[38]
Nevada ranked first in crime rates among the fifty states in both 1995 and 1996, based on an analysis of FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics.[39]
University of Nevada-Las Vegas researchers concluded that the state of Wisconsin experiences an average of 5,300 additional major crimes a year due to the presence of casinos in that state. They also attributed an additional 17,100 arrests for less-serious crimes each year to the existence of casino gambling.[40]
Half of Louisiana District Attorneys surveyed in 1995 noted gambling as a factor in rising crime rates in their jurisdictions.[41]
Exploitation of the Poor
A study of 1,800 Minnesotans in state-run gambling treatment programs found that over half had yearly incomes of $20,000 or less. The study also discovered that the amount of debt, as a proportion of income, was highest among the poorest gamblers seeking treatment.[42]
University of North Florida researchers reported: "Gambling expenditures in Las Vegas indicate a regressive pattern for gambling taxes because the percentage of household income devoted to gambling falls consistently as income rises."[43]
Half of Illinois casino gamblers with annual incomes below $10,000 reported losing over $1,900 to the casinos in the previous year.[44]
In New York, those living in the most impoverished areas of the state spent 800% more of their income on lottery tickets than did those living in affluent sections.[45]
An Associated Press survey of Wisconsin lottery purchases found that residents living in the poorest neighborhoods in the state spent 400% more of their income on lottery tickets than those in wealthier neighborhoods.[46]
A University of Louisville study showed that Kentuckians with annual incomes less than $15,000 spent $9 per week on lottery tickets, while those earning twice that amount only spent $7.[47]
A Texas A&M study found that residents earning 2% of the state's total income, provide 10% of the stateÂ’s lottery's revenue.[48]
[1] "The Personal Bankruptcy Crisis, 1997: Demographics, Causes, Implications & Solutions," SMR Research Corporation, 1997, p. 117.
[2] John McCormick, "Many IowanÂ’s Going for Broke," Des Moines Register, June 15, 1997, p. 1. (Note: For the years 1991-1996.)
[3] Calculations based on data provided by the American Bankruptcy Institute.
[4] "The Personal Bankruptcy Crisis, 1997," op. cit., p. 117 and 123.
[5] Ibid.., p. 117.
[6] Ron French, "Gambling Bankruptcies Soar," Detroit News, December 3, 1995, p. A1.
[7] William N. Thompson, Ricardo Gazel and Dan Rickman, "The Social Costs of Gambling in Wisconsin," Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, July 1996, p. 15; Henry R. Lesieur and Christopher W. Anderson, "Results of a 1995 Survey of Gamblers Anonymous Members in Illinois," June 14, 1995; "The Personal Bankruptcy Crisis, 1997," op. cit., p. 124.
[8] David P. Phillips, Ward Welty, and Marisa Smith, “Elevated Suicide Levels Associated with Legalized Gambling,” Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, vol. 27, December 1997, p. 373.
[9] Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., “The House Never Loses and Maryland Cannot Win: Why Casino Gaming Is a Bad Idea,” Report on the Impact of Casino Gaming on Crime, October 16, 1995, p. 7.
[10] National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., “The Need for a National Policy on Problem and Pathological Gambling in America,” November 1, 1993, p. 7.
[11] Chris Ison, “That Last Losing Bet Often Is More Than Some Can Take,” (Minneapolis) Star Tribune, December 3, 1995, p. 18A.
[12] Henry R. Lesieur and Christopher W. Anderson, “Results of a 1995 Survey of Gamblers Anonymous Members in Illinois (N=184),” Illinois Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling, June 14, 1995.
[13] Christopher Anderson (interview), executive director, Illinois Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling, May 1, 1998; Laura Gatland, “Paying to Play,” Crain’s Small Business Chicago, October 1, 1996, p. 24.
[14] Information provided by Gamblers Anonymous International Service Office, Los Angeles, California, February 23, 1998.
[15] Rachel A. Volberg, "Prevalence Studies of Problem Gambling in the United States," Journal of Gambling Studies, Summer 1996, p. 123.
[16] Michael O. Emerson, J. Clark Laundergan, James M. Schaefer, "Adult Survey of Minnesota Problem Gambling Behavior; A Needs Assessment: Changes 1990 to 1994," Center for Addiction Studies, University of Minnesota, Duluth, September 1994.
[17] Rachel A. Volberg, "Gambling and Problem Gambling in Iowa: A Replication Survey," Iowa Department of Human Services, July 28, 1995.
[18] Robert D. Carr, Jerome E. Buchkoski, Lial Kofoed, and Timothy J. Morgan, "'Video Lottery' and Treatment for Pathological Gambling: A Natural Experiment in South Dakota," South Dakota Journal of Medicine, January 1996, p. 31.
[19] Rachel A. Volberg, "Gambling and Problem Gambling in New York: A 10-Year Replication Survey, 1986 to 1996," Report to the New York Council on Problem Gambling, July 1996.
[20] Jeff Mapes, "Gambling on Addiction," The Oregonian, March 9, 1997, p. 1A.
[21] National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) Final Report, June 1999, p. 7-27.
[22] NGISC Final Report, p. 7-26.
[23] National Opinion Research Center, "Gambling Impact and Behavior Study: Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission," April 1, 1999, p. 48.
[24] Mississippi State Department of Health, "Vital Statistics Mississippi" for the years 1991-1998.
[25] NGISC Final Report, p. 7-28.
[26] Grace Schneider, "Children Being Left Alone While Parents Gamble," [Louisville] Courier-Journal, July 18, 2000.
[27] Joe Darby, "Sitter Indicted in Toddler's Death," New Orleans Times-Picayune, May 23, 1997, p. B1; "Police: Baby Died of Dehydration in Car While Mom Gambled in Casino," Associated Press, September 2, 1997.
[28] Ed Bierschenk, "Gambler Receives 21 Years in Connection with Baby's Death," Copley News Service, October 23, 1999.
[29] Stephanie Saul, "Tribe Bets on Growth," Newsday, August 11, 1997.
[30] National Research Council, "Pathological Gambling: A Critical Review," April 1, 1999, p. 5-2.
[31] Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., "The House Never Loses and Maryland Cannot Win: Why Casino Gaming Is a Bad Idea," October 16, 1995, p. 5; NGISC Final Report, p. 7-27.
[32] John Jejkal, "U. Nebraska Doctor Contributes to National Domestic Violence Study," Daily Nebraskan, January 13, 2000.
[33] Petula Dvorak, "Marrero Man Kills Wife, Self," New Orleans Times-Picayune, May 8, 1998, p. A1; Benita Williams, "Woman Sentenced in Slaying," Kansas City Star, December 21, 1999, p. B2; Dave Racher, "Landscaper Held in Wife's Slaying," Philadelphia Daily News, July 11, 1998; Hector Castro, "Savage Killing of 3 Still a Mystery," (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune, June 14, 1999, p. A1; Carson Walker, "Cepek Killed in Her Apartment, Police Believe," (Sioux Falls, S.D.) Argus Leader, January 30, 1997; Mark Horvit, "Anecdotes Link Video Poker with Crimes," Charlotte Observer, October 3, 1999; Jack Gruber, "Gambling Help Comes Slowly," Detroit News, October 3, 1997, p. C1; Ed Hayward, "Gambling Habit Eyed As Motive," Boston Herald, October 21, 1997, p. 7; W. Melillo and B. Masters, "Lone Survivor of Father's Shooting Dies," Washington Post, August 6, 1998, p. A1; Associated Press, "Woman Blames Gambling Debts in Double Murder," September 10, 1999; "Ohio Man Guilty of Bomb Murder," Associated Press, February 5, 1997.
[34] Dennis J. McGrath and Chris Ison, “Gambling Spawns a New Breed of Criminal,” [Minneapolis] Star Tribune, December 4, 1995, p. A6.
[35] Andrew J. Buck, Simon Hakim, and Uriel Spiegel, “Casinos, Crime and Real Estate Values: Do They Relate?,” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, August 1991, p. 295.
[36] Joseph P. Shapiro, “America’s Gambling Fever,” U.S. News & World Report, January 15, 1996, pp. 58, 60.
[37] Bartholomew Sullivan, “Once-Sleepy Tunica Awakens to Gambling-Inspired Crime,” [Memphis] Commercial Appeal, October 20, 1997, p. A5.
[38] Mayor Wesley J. Johnson, Sr., “Fiscal Impacts of Foxwoods Casino on the Town of Ledyard, Connecticut,” April 1997.
[39] Ed Koch, “Nevada: Most Dangerous?” Las Vegas Sun, July 16, 1997, p. 1A.
[40] William N. Thompson, Ricardo Gazel, and Dan Rickman, “Casinos and Crime in Wisconsin: What’s the Connection?”, Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, November 1996.
[41] Greg Garland, “Crime Rising with Gambling: Bad Checks, Theft Show Biggest Gain,” [Baton Rouge, La.] Advocate, July 30, 1995, p. 1A.
[42] Pat Doyle, "Compulsive Gambling Hitting Poor Hardest, New State Study Says," Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 25, 1997, p. 1B.
[43] Mary O. Borg, Paul M. Mason and Stephen L. Shapiro, "The Incidence of Taxes on Casino Gambling: Exploiting the Tired and Poor," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, July 1991, pp. 323-332.
[44] Better Government Association, "Statement of J. Terrence Brunner, Executive Director," November 3, 1995.
[45] Ford Fessenden and John Riley, "And the Poor Get Poorer ...," Newsday, December 4, 1995, p. A7.
[46] "Lottery Claims Bigger Slice of Poor's Income," Chicago Tribune, May 26, 1995, sec. "News," p. 3.
[47] Sheldon Shafer, "Blacks and Poor Spend More Money on Lottery, Study Says," Louisville Courier-Journal, June 29, 1994, p. 1B. (Note: Based on weeks in which respondents played the lottery.)
[48] Crystal Humphress, "Survey Shows Poor Lose More to Lottery," Dallas Morning News, March 10, 1994, p. 16A.
Contact: Ken W. Karouzos, Legislative Coordinator, The Center for Arizona Policy This Fact Sheet may be reproduced without any change and in its entirety for non-commercial purposes without prior permission from The Center for Arizona Policy. © 2001 CAP. All rights reserved.
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LEGALIZED GAMBLING HAS RAPIDLY EXPANDED
Twenty years ago, commercial gambling casinos were prohibited in every state except Nevada. Only 13 states had lotteries. There was no such thing as a Native American casino. Altogether, Americans wagered about $17 billion on legal commercial gambling.
Between 1976 and 1988, casinos were legalized in Atlantic City and the number of state lotteries more than doubled. Then, from 1989 to 1994, gambling casinos were legalized in 21 additional states, and slot or video gambling machines were legalized at racetracks and bars in 10 states.
All told, Americans legally wagered $550 billion on legal gambling in 1995 an astonishing 3,200 percent increase in gambling since 1974.
Overall, Americans gambled away more than $40 billion in 1995, up from $10.4 billion in 1982. Of all legal betting in America, commercial casinos account for about 76%, Native American tribal gambling 9%, state lotteries 7%, pari-mutuels (including horseracing, dog racing and jai alai) 4%, and charity gambling 4%.
In 1995, more money was spent on casino gambling than was spent on movie tickets, theater, opera and concerts combined. In 1993, Americans made more trips to casinos than they did to Major League baseball games, NFL football games, symphony concerts and Broadway shows combined.
* 23 states allow casino gambling. (AZ, CA, CT, MI, MN, MT, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, WA, WI have tribal casinos; CO, IA, LA, MS, NV, SD have both commercial and tribal casinos; IL, IN, MO, NJ have commercial casinos only.)
* 2 other states, FL and GA, host casino "cruises to nowhere" where the gambling takes place in international waters.
* 11 states allow slot or video gambling machines at locations outside of gambling casinos (DE, ID, IA, LA, MT, NV, OR, RI, SC, SD, WV).
* 37 states and the District of Columbia have a lottery.
* 10 state lotteries operate Keno games (CO, GA, KS, MD, MA, MI, NY, OR, RI, WA, WV). California's Keno game was recently ruled unconstitutional.
* Every state except two (Hawaii and Utah) allows some form of legal gambling. While Tennessee allows only pari-mutuel betting, there are currently no legal betting establishments in that state.
* 46 states permit bingo.
* 33 states allow betting on horse races.
* 11 states allow betting on dog races.
GAMBLING IS BAD FOR BUSINESS
The expansion of legalized gambling is a major threat to business in the United States because gambling steals revenues. As Donald Trump candidly explained to the Miami Herald: "People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally spend on buying a refrigerator or a new car. Local businesses will suffer because they'll lose customer dollars to the casinos."
Cannibalization in Atlantic City:
In Atlantic City, casinos were legalized in 1976. Four years later, the number of retail businesses in the city had declined by one-third. The number of restaurants in Atlantic City declined from 243 in 1977, the year after casinos were legalized, to 146 in 1987. Only about 10 percent of the businesses nearest to the casino locations in 1976 are still open today. Instead, just off the beach, there are dozens of pawn shops for losing gamblers to sell their jewelry for cash.
Cannibalization in Minnesota:
In Minnesota, where Indian casinos are found across the state, restaurant business has fallen by 20 to 50 percent within a 30- mile radius of casinos with food service.
Cannibalization in South Dakota:
A study conducted for the State of South Dakota found that, after casino gambling was legalized in 1989 within the town of Deadwood, business declined significantly at nearby restaurants, clothing stores, recreation services, business services, and auto dealers. Within two years, legalized gambling constituted one of the leading causes of business and personal bankruptcies among South Dakota residents.
Gambling leads to loss of jobs:
A 1995 report by the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development estimated the establishment of gambling casinos in Baltimore would result in the loss of 23,000 to 31,000 jobs from the cannibalization of local industries, including "restaurants, retail, other entertainment, and horse racing and breeding." The casinos would add only 14,000 to 15,000 jobs, so the net impact on employment in Baltimore would be a loss of 9,000 to 16,000 full-time jobs. Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Office of Business and Economic Research, report on the Economic and Fiscal Impacts from the Introduction of Casino Gambling in Maryland, October 1995.
GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS ATTRACT CRIME
In 1994, when their state was considering legalized casino gambling, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association issued a joint report which concluded, "Casino gambling will mean...that crime rates will go up. It means the community will see--and have to confront--more vagrants, prostitutes, domestic violence, and gambling addiction. It means our communities will be less safe and secure."
In 1995, the Attorney General of Maryland issued a report entitled "The House Never Loses and Maryland Cannot Win: Why Casino Gaming is a Bad Idea." That report explains: "Casinos would bring a substantial increase in crime to our State. There would be more violent crime, more crimes against property, more insurance fraud, more white collar crime, more juvenile crime, more drug and alcohol-related crime, more domestic violence and child abuse, and more organized crime."
Gambling attracts street criminals:
Atlantic City's crime rate rose an incredible 258 percent within ten years of the legalization of casinos. In Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, the site of 11 out of 13 casinos in that state, crime increased in every category in 1994, with murder, rape, robbery and car theft at least doubling. Three years after casinos were legalized in Deadwood, South Dakota, felony crimes increased by 40 percent, child abuse was up 42 percent, domestic violence and assaults rose 80 percent.
Pathological gamblers feed their addiction:
More than half of all pathological gamblers will commit crimes in order to pay off gambling debts, particularly financial crimes like embezzlement, check kiting, credit card fraud, loan fraud, insurance fraud, and tax evasion. Pathological gamblers are responsible for an estimated $1.3 billion worth of insurance- related fraud per year. In addition, problem gamblers will commit domestic violence and child abuse. For example, since casinos came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, domestic violence has increased 69 percent, and it is estimated that 37 percent of all pathological gamblers have abused their children.
Legal gambling benefits organized crime:
William Jahoda, who formerly managed illegal gambling operations for the Chicago mob, testified before the House Judiciary Committee in 1995 that "any new form or expansion of existing State-controlled licensed gambling always increased our market share" because advertising greatly increased the number of gamblers.
GAMBLING IS BAD FOR FAMILIES
Legalized gambling triggers the mental disorder of pathological (or "compulsive") gambling. Pathological gambling destroys the lives of thousands of Americans and devastates their families, friends and employers. The most common argument in favor of gambling expansion is that it will yield government revenues which can be used for programs to "help" people. But helping some people by exploiting and destroying others is bad social policy, and simply unethical.
More gambling means more gambling addicts:
Experts on pathological gambling believe that the prevalence rate of this disorder is linked to the accessibility and acceptability of gambling. In short, the more legalized gambling a state makes available, the more pathological behavior is triggered. And fast-paced gambling that maximizes the number of wagering opportunities (like casinos and video gambling machines), also maximizes gambling addiction.
In Iowa, a study released in July 1995 found that 5.4 percent of the state's adults (roughly 110,000 residents) are lifetime pathological or problem gamblers. Before riverboats came to that state, only 1.7 percent of Iowans were lifetime pathological or problem gamblers. In other words, the legalization of casinos has more than tripled the addiction problem.
The 1995 Iowa study concluded: "The hypothesis that increases in the availability of legalized gambling lead to increases in the prevalence of gambling-related difficulties in the general population is clearly demonstrated."
Creating a generation of problem gamblers:
Researchers now call gambling the fastest growing teenage addiction, with the rate of pathological gambling among high school and college-age youth about twice that of adults. According to Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, Director of the Harvard Medical School Center for Addiction Studies, "Today, there are more children experiencing adverse symptoms from gambling than from drugs...and the problem is growing."
Casinos profit from gambling addiction:
In his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in September, Professor Earl Grinols presented evidence that pathological and problem gamblers, representing only 4 percent of the adult population, account for 52 percent of an average casino's revenues. "In this respect, casino gambling resembles alcohol for which 6.7 percent of the population consumes 50 percent of all alcohol consumed."
NCALG Information Library -
Dear Stupidissmart,
Have you done any research on the social ills before you could qualify your assertions that it is not "gonna increase to such an extent"? As I have said, please read the reports by NGISC. It will give you an insight into the problem. 4% of the adult population will become pathological gamblers. 4 times of that would be affected such gambling problems.
The govt could just sit down there and do nothing about the social ills, but just collect monies from the casino.
If every countries going to have casinos, who do you think will want to come all the way to Singapore to gamble in our casino? Then, we will be back to square one. Our hotels will become empty also. Our tourism industry will be doomed also. And we are worst off with more Singaporeans gambling in our own casino!
Goh Meng SengOriginally posted by stupidissmart:I don't really think tat "social ills cost" is gonna increase to such an extent since otherwise why will malaysia and other nations build casino ? Even china, according to goh meng seng is intending to build a casino. gov is not gonna lose money in a casino and they r not tat dumb -
I quote the first sentence from goh meng seng first post "It is strange indeed. Nobody in his right mind would want their children to be gamblers but there are people who would support Casino!".
I have also said before, I do not want my children to be gamblers, but my father himself is a regular gambler as well. I do not want my child to be alcohol addict, so I will ban alcohol ? I do not want my child to be smokers, so we ban cigerrettes ? Do u really think opening a casino will make all vices in singapore leap to extraordinary high suddenly and number of broken families will jump to incredible heights ? U look at singapore now and u got to admit there r already many venues for gambling. MOre than 50% of the people here had betted in a casino at one point of time. R they all gamblers ? Opening up a casino is not going to affect us tat drastically.Yes, there are jackpot machine around but are sort of controlled and limited in number in each of the gaming outlets. The illegal ones are being hunt down relentlessly. The government has sort of "limit / control" the fallouts from these gaming outlets. Just like prostitution, legalised but not advertised.
The total number of slot machine in singapore is greater than the total number of slot machine in a normal casino. Casino will not be advertised if u wantDo you want to be tested, be a gambler, be an addicted gambler, and let your family members suffer the consequence? You think you are mature enough to resist the lure.
No, I don't want to be tested or my loved one to become hardcore addicts. However I want to see tax reduced, employment increased, tourists increased, singapore having more entertainment outlet and gambler spending their money here than in overseas. U can say it may break up a lot of families in singapore. But u can't deny it may give employment and benefits tat cement a family closer together as well. There r 2 sides of the coin to it, not one.Which referendem shows "majority of the population support casino"? Please don't equate a survey as referendem. Survey results change depend on sampling groups
Obviously the survery will do random sampling and also it is a real study on the population. Is the result surprising to u ? I find them to be believable. Therefore I can say tat it is more believable tat more people here support casino than people who do notIs casino a sure win? This example tells us why no casino investor will dare to promise $500 million a year gambling tax.
Why do u pick the figure of 500 millions ? Is the figure chosen by yourself ?http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jul-22-Thu-2004/business/24360704.html
Tis is also an article tat shows a casino earning money.
Anyway, u r stopping the project to go ahead because u r scared it lose money ? R u scared of losing money when the Underwater world or sentosa is built ? If tat is the case, we r abandoning tourism and let all our hotel close down. Can we afford tat ? Tourist industry is taking up a lot of employment as well as contribute a significant fraction of our earnings. Other countries r already making much more money in tourism than us now. R we supposed to ride on the challenge or give up on the whole tourist industry ? -
Migrated from mikep's thread.
Posted by mikep
Topic: 6 types of gamblers - 1 of them makes a living by gambling!
Pasted this from a source on the internet........consider point number 1 as valid. Notice some of the keywords by the MD: "skilled", "control", "not addicted", "patiently wait" are used to sum up what it takes to be professional gambler. Unfortunately most of us are impatient, lack the proper skill & think that we are very smart or lucky = losers!
Robert L. Custer, M.D., identified six types of gamblers:
1) Professional gamblers
Professional gamblers make their living by gambling and thus consider it
a profession. They are skilled in the games they choose to play and are able
to control both the amount of money and time spent gambling. Thus,
professional gamblers are not addicted to gambling. They patiently wait for
the best bet and then try to win as much as they can.
2) Anti-social or personality gamblers
In contrast to professional gamblers, antisocial or personality gamblers
use gambling as a way to get money by illegal means. They are likely to be
involved in fixing horse or dog races, or playing with loaded dice or marked
cards. They may attempt to use a compulsive gambling diagnosis as a legal
defense.
3) Casual social gamblers
Casual social gamblers gamble for recreation, sociability and
entertainment. For them, gambling may be a distraction or a form of
relaxation. Gambling does not interfere with family, social or vocational
obligations. Examples of such betting are the occasional poker game, Super
Bowl bets, a yearly trip to Las Vegas and casual involvement in the lottery.
4) Serious social gamblers
In contrast, serious social gamblers invest more of their time in
gambling. Gambling is a major source of relaxation and entertainment, yet
these individuals place gambling second in importance to family and
vocation. This type of gambler could be compared to a "golf nut," whose
source of relaxation comes from playing golf. Serious social gamblers still
maintain control over their gambling activities.
5) Relief and escape gamblers
Custer's fifth type, relief and escape gamblers, gamble to find relief
from feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, boredom or loneliness. They use
gambling to escape from crisis or difficulties. Gambling provides an
analgesic effect rather than a euphoric response. Relief and escape gamblers
are not compulsive gamblers. They are identical to relief and escape
drinkers.
6) Compulsive gamblers
Compulsive gamblers have lost control over their gambling. For them,
gambling is the most important thing in their lives. Compulsive gambling is
a progressive addiction that harms every aspect of the gambler's life. As
they continue to gamble, their families, friends and employers are
negatively affected. In addition, compulsive gamblers may engage in
activities such as stealing, lying or embezzling which go against their
moral standards. Compulsive gamblers cannot stop gambling, no matter how
much they want to or how hard they try. -
Apparently, you have not done any research on the social ills.
Casino is only "good" if most of its patrons are from other places, not from its own community. 80% of Les Vegas casinos' patrons are from other states or other foreign countries. Thus, the social ills for Les Vegas is minimized., but yet, not so small. Similarly for Macau. And in NGISC study, it is proven that those at the lower income are hurt more.
Thus, if you want us to reap the economic benefits while minimizing the social cost, the only way is to restrict Singaporeans from patronizing our casino. But that defeats the purpose of stopping the outflow of gambling monies to other places. Furthermore, this is not sustainable in the long run when other countries around us start to build world class casinos. At the end of the day, we will all be suckers.
Please read the NGISC reports. It will enlighten you a bit on the social ills.
Goh Meng SengOriginally posted by vito_corleone:our neighbours copied us when we built a world class airport, and guess what mr opposition, they failed. if that's the case, how come you don't see KLIA recieving as much business as changi? regarding HK disneyland, i think most sane and MATURE adults would rather go to a casino that HK disneyland to look at silly disney characters waddle around making a fool of themselves. if gambling does indeed corrupt society you would see reports of all kinds of crime in vegas, mcau, monaco and genting. as for myself, i have yet to witness any crime in vegas or any decrease in the "morality" of the vegas residents. if all the far sighted leaders shared your over-conservative point of view las vegas would still be a dead desert town today, monaco would be as poor as the eastern bloc states, even poorer. -
Well, its so true... you go to Star City in Sdyney, most of the gamblers there are asian. You dunch see many aussies gambling... Same goes for Las Vegas, ask the workers or the people who live there how many times they go to gamble, most say they shun away from the Casino as they know the odds are against them to win.Originally posted by goh meng seng:Apparently, you have not done any research on the social ills.
Casino is only "good" if most of its patrons are from other places, not from its own community. 80% of Les Vegas casinos' patrons are from other states or other foreign countries. Thus, the social ills for Les Vegas is minimized., but yet, not so small. Similarly for Macau. And in NGISC study, it is proven that those at the lower income are hurt more.
Thus, if you want us to reap the economic benefits while minimizing the social cost, the only way is to restrict Singaporeans from patronizing our casino. But that defeats the purpose of stopping the outflow of gambling monies to other places. Furthermore, this is not sustainable in the long run when other countries around us start to build world class casinos. At the end of the day, we will all be suckers.
Please read the NGISC reports. It will enlighten you a bit on the social ills.
Goh Meng Seng
Can someone setup a website so that all the pro casino voters can vote to approve the casino?
Doesn't anyone see that the unemployment situation is getting worse and worse in Singapore??? Those who shun the casino concept, please go think of ideas to hire all the unemployed, if you can't, then please keep your mouth shut. Because, the Casino like our world class airports, shipping ports... is really our rice bowl. -
Have you done any research on the social ills before you could qualify your assertions that it is not "gonna increase to such an extent"? As I have said, please read the reports by NGISC. It will give you an insight into the problem. 4% of the adult population will become pathological gamblers. 4 times of that would be affected such gambling problems.
This research is based on the fact of having a casino compared with having none. However technically speaking, singapore already had casinoes. They were called floating casino which we had in the form of cruise ships. So wat r the effects of having an additional casino compared with the existing few we had now ?If every countries going to have casinos, who do you think will want to come all the way to Singapore to gamble in our casino? Then, we will be back to square one. Our hotels will become empty also. Our tourism industry will be doomed also. And we are worst off with more Singaporeans gambling in our own casino!
Looking at another angle, if casino is tat bad, why will all countries had a casino ? Why should we be special and stop building casinoes ourselves ? Now, certainly not all countries had it yet now, we might as well make use of tis opportunity to establish a name ourselves in the region first. When every countries had casinoes, then we think of new ideas. If we fear tat in future someone will copy us, then we might as well stop bio research or semi conductor work since one fine day someone is gonna copy us as well. If we had tis fear of being copied, then SIA will never take off since someone is bound to follow his example as well. -
It is about whether the business proposal is viable. You will not start a labour intensive and big land use business in S'pore because of high labour and land cost. So we have to calculate if S'pore has the tourism resources to bet on this integrated resort project.
Many people cited the economic gains from some dead poor communities as examples. They have nowhere to go but up. The casinos draw outside money to benefit them. But S'pore is not the the same case. The fact that casinos in US bankrupt shows that casino can fail when the market is saturated. The worst case S'pore can face is that the resort sequeezes other entertainment establishments out of business and make the economy worse off as a whole. Then a region saturated with casinos drive S'pore resort project to bankrupt just because they have better scenic environment and more spacious facilities.
The following article from a reader raised some good questions of the viability of the project. Until these questions are answered, don't bet that the casino will be good to the economy.
I am saying NO now because there are too many questions unanswered.
If you can argue that others fail when they try to copycat S'pore airport, then tell us why you think S'pore will not fail when it try to copycat other's casino.
As I said before, the real debate on this issue has not started yet.
------------
Dec 6, 2004
THE CASINO DEBATE
Betting targets crucial to gauge social impact
SIGNS indicate that a Las Vegas-type casino resort, which will cost $1
billion or more to build, is on the cards.
Investors will want to make sure the project stands out as an icon in
the region and there is a critical mass or economies of scale to make
it viable in the long run.
Correspondingly, the size of the casino operation will have to be
enormous.
What betting targets are these investors thinking about? This is a
crucial parameter for researchers who want to gauge the social impact
of the project on our nation.
....................
....................Originally posted by stupidissmart:Tis is also an article tat shows a casino earning money.
Anyway, u r stopping the project to go ahead because u r scared it lose money ? R u scared of losing money when the Underwater world or sentosa is built ? If tat is the case, we r abandoning tourism and let all our hotel close down. Can we afford tat ? Tourist industry is taking up a lot of employment as well as contribute a significant fraction of our earnings. Other countries r already making much more money in tourism than us now. R we supposed to ride on the challenge or give up on the whole tourist industry ? -
wrote:
Can someone setup a website so that all the pro casino voters can vote to approve the casino?
Well you can try to sign up at http://MYaz.fateback.com
The owner of the above forum is slightly on the pro-casino side & he allows members to create their own polls on gambling stuff. -
It is about whether the business proposal is viable. You will not start a labour intensive and big land use business in S'pore because of high labour and land cost. So we have to calculate if S'pore has the tourism resources to bet on this integrated resort project.
Frankly, a casino with themeparks sounds to be the winning combination for tourism. U states some casino tat went bankrupt but certainly there were a few hundred times more casinoes tat were earning moeny. U think I thought who confirm ? Why don't we give it a try and see if it is viable ?Many people cited the economic gains from some dead poor communities as examples. They have nowhere to go but up. The casinos draw outside money to benefit them. But S'pore is not the the same case. The fact that casinos in US bankrupt shows that casino can fail when the market is saturated. The worst case S'pore can face is that the resort sequeezes other entertainment establishments out of business and make the economy worse off as a whole. Then a region saturated with casinos drive S'pore resort project to bankrupt just because they have better scenic environment and more spacious facilities.
Why do u think singapore region is already saturated ? I thought in indonesia, thailand, laos, cambodia, brunei don't have casinoes ? The only close one is genting isn't it ? In fact it could attract china tourist as well as pull in some nearbby malaysia, indonesia tourists in as well.
Singapore casino squeezes other entertainment resort is a bad thing ? Aren't u against competition then ? So we shouldn't build a bigger shopping mall because it will affect the other shoppings malls ? We shouldn't build a better cinemas because it will affects other cinemas ?I am saying NO now because there are too many questions unanswered.
wat r the questions u wanna ask ? -
This question of "if casino is tat bad, why will all countries had a casino" tell us you don't want to do independent research and thinking. You just want to use let use "just follow the crowd" excuse to support your view. Is this the way to go?
You are right about we need to try and take risk. But you have to do the market research and risk assessment first before you jump into it. One done by some SMU professors said casino is bad to S'pore.Originally posted by stupidissmart:Looking at another angle, if casino is tat bad, why will all countries had a casino ? Why should we be special and stop building casinoes ourselves ? Now, certainly not all countries had it yet now, we might as well make use of tis opportunity to establish a name ourselves in the region first. When every countries had casinoes, then we think of new ideas. If we fear tat in future someone will copy us, then we might as well stop bio research or semi conductor work since one fine day someone is gonna copy us as well. If we had tis fear of being copied, then SIA will never take off since someone is bound to follow his example as well. -
This question of "if casino is tat bad, why will all countries had a casino" tell us you don't want to do independent research and thinking. You just want to use let use "just follow the crowd" excuse to support your view. Is this the way to go?
Frankly, the majority of policies makers r perhaps the wiser among the people. They too followed reports, scientific research etc before they implement policies, and not do it at a moment of impulse. Tis sort of summarises the point tat after following reports and studies, the decision of wiser people is to carry on and build a casino. So it sort of illustrates the fact tat it is a sound decision.You are right about we need to try and take risk. But you have to do the market research and risk assessment first before you jump into it. One done by some SMU professors said casino is bad to S'pore.
I think tat some market survery or risk assessment was made... Frankly the idea of a casino making money is so obvious tat most members of the public knew it to be a fact. -
I don't mind give it a try if the casino investor is willing to promise at list $500 million a year gambling tax. If you think it is too high, name a figure.
You have misread what I said: "the resort sequeezes other entertainment establishments out". Would it be good if that entertainment establishment be Sentosa, and the Zoo. We are talking about 5 to 10 years consideration. By then the region may be saturated with casino. Why? The casino operator want to use S'pore as a springboard to invade the region.Originally posted by stupidissmart:Frankly, a casino with themeparks sounds to be the winning combination for tourism. U states some casino tat went bankrupt but certainly there were a few hundred times more casinoes tat were earning moeny. U think I thought who confirm ? Why don't we give it a try and see if it is viable ?
Competition is good. Over-competition is bad. Compete in area one is weak is stupid.Originally posted by stupidissmart:Singapore casino squeezes other entertainment resort is a bad thing ? Aren't u against competition then ? So we shouldn't build a bigger shopping mall because it will affect the other shoppings malls ? We shouldn't build a better cinemas because it will affects other cinemas ? -
dear GMS, apparently you have not done any research on the mentality of the human mind. that is why i said that we should follow the monaco system of not allowing locals into casinos. and people who know that they have not the reseouces to gamble should EXERCISE SOME SELF CONTROL. and besides, have u any common sense at all that it is INEVITABLE that gambling will occur? even without a casino or even if we build one and ban locals from going there..they will still head down to casinos overseas to gamble..that is causing a lot of money to be drained out of our country. why let money flow out when u can keep it here? once again and for the last time i'll say, GAMBLING DOES NOT RUIN A MAN, A MAN RUINS HIMSELF. the more you deprive somebody of something..the stronger his urge to have it. you dont let him gamble here, he'll fly off somewhere else, no difference. can we at least have some logic, common sense and practicality in this debate? please, learn to have a mind of your own rather than follow stupid "studies" by all kinds of unheard of organisations blindly.Originally posted by goh meng seng:Apparently, you have not done any research on the social ills.
Casino is only "good" if most of its patrons are from other places, not from its own community. 80% of Les Vegas casinos' patrons are from other states or other foreign countries. Thus, the social ills for Les Vegas is minimized., but yet, not so small. Similarly for Macau. And in NGISC study, it is proven that those at the lower income are hurt more.
Thus, if you want us to reap the economic benefits while minimizing the social cost, the only way is to restrict Singaporeans from patronizing our casino. But that defeats the purpose of stopping the outflow of gambling monies to other places. Furthermore, this is not sustainable in the long run when other countries around us start to build world class casinos. At the end of the day, we will all be suckers.
Please read the NGISC reports. It will enlighten you a bit on the social ills.
Goh Meng Seng