By Donn Richard
December 2006
Singapore

After much debate and controversy and with an estimated 30,000 people signing a petition against it, in 2005, Singapore’s government, after decades-old aversion, decided to allow two Las Vegas style casinos to be built.

The first contract for the first Integrated Resorts was awarded on May the 26th 2006, to America’s Las Vegas Sands, one of the world’s largest casino operators. Integrated Resorts the Marina Bay Sands, is to be built at Marina Bay and is expected to open its doors in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The second contract for Singapore’s second Integrated Resorts was awarded on December the 8th 2006, to Malaysia’s Genting International. Integrated Resorts Resorts World at Sentosa, is to be built on Sentosa and expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

According to Singapore’s Prime Minister, the goal is to attract overseas visitors and to create more jobs. Singapore, a country of 4.3 million people, wants to stay competitive in the Asian tourist market, and the economic benefits of the two casinos will outweigh the social costs.

With a price tag in the billions of dollars, the two resort casinos will feature hotels, theme parks, restaurants and other entertainment facilities.

Many Singaporeans enjoy gambling. But because gambling has always been considered "society’s evil" in Singapore, most gambling has taken place in underground outfits or online or outside the country.

Gambling can become addictive, especially if left unchecked. And teens as young as fourteen partake in the excitement of gambling. With no realistic ways to control or prevent gambling, the opening of the island’s two casinos is not all that bad of an idea after all. Not to mention the extra dollars that will fill Singapore’s coffers.

The Singapore government are masters at planning, and concluded that the only way to minimize social problems associated with gambling is to better control it and heavily regulate it before the fun even starts in 2009. The two casinos will charge local gamblers about Singapore $65 casino entrance fee to deter those who can’t afford to play.