The Casino Visit Limit will come into effect from 1 June 2013, as part of a new set of social safeguards introduced following amendments to the Casino Control Act in November 2012.
2 To be administered by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the Casino Visit Limit serves as an additional safeguard for financially vulnerable locals who visit the casinos frequently. The Visit Limit, if imposed on an individual, will set a cap on the number of times that individual may visit the casinos at the Integrated Resorts each month.
3 Three types of Casino Visit Limits are available to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents:
a) Voluntary Visit Limit - Individuals may apply to the NCPG to limit their visits;
b) Family Visit Limit - Family members may apply to the NCPG to limit a family member’s visits; and
c) Third-Party Visit Limit - Persons found to have poor credit records or are vulnerable to financial harm due to gambling could be imposed with a Third-Party Visit Limit by a Committee of Assessors appointed by the NCPG.
(For further details, please refer to Annex.)
4 Acting Minister Chan Chun Sing said, “The Casino Visit Limit will complement the current Casino Exclusion system. It broadens the measures available to protect an individual and his family from the harm of problem gambling. However, these measures on their own are not sufficient to resolve gambling-related problems faced by individuals and their families. Family members can also play a key role in providing encouragement and support to the gambler in their family. Most importantly, individuals must take personal responsibility to change their behaviour and to seek help.”
5 NCPG Chairman Mr Lim Hock San said, “The Casino Visit Limit is an additional safeguard for individuals and families to deal with gambling-related problems. We encourage individuals to take the initiative to limit their gambling behaviour or seek help for themselves or for friends or family members who may have a gambling problem.”
6 Enquiries on the Casino Visit Limit can be made through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1800-6-668-668.
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Issued by:
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
28 May 2013
Annex
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CASINO VISIT LIMIT
1. The Casino Visit Limit sets a cap on the number of times an individual may visit the casinos at the Integrated Resorts each month. It is aimed at helping financially vulnerable Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who visit the casinos frequently.
2. Administered by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the Casino Visit Limit complements the existing Casino Exclusion regime by providing another safeguard option for individuals and their families to control gambling habits. Once imposed, a Visit Limit will be in force until an application for revocation is approved by the Council. In revoking a Visit Limit, the NCPG has to be satisfied that there has been a substantial change in the relevant circumstances based on which the Visit Limit was imposed initially.
3. There are three types of Casino Visit Limits:
a. Voluntary Visit Limit
i. An individual may voluntarily apply to limit his/her casino visits. Applications for Voluntary Visit Limit can be made online at NCPG’s website (www.ncpg.org.sg) via SingPass, or in person at NCPG’s office at 510 Thomson Road, SLF Building, #05-01 Singapore 298135.
b. Family Visit Limit
i. A family member may apply to limit his/her family member’s casino visits per month. Family Visit Limit is available to immediate family members, i.e. spouses, children, parents and siblings, including adopted and step relations.
ii. NCPG will appoint a Committee of Assessors to hear and determine applications for Family Visit Limit.
iii. At the hearing, an applicant for the Family Visit Limit must prove that the gambler (i.e. respondent) has engaged in or is likely to engage in gambling activities which are in disregard of the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members. The respondent will be duly heard at the same hearing. Based on the merits of each case, the Committee of Assessors will decide on the number of casino visits the respondent is limited to, if the Family Visit Limit application is granted. The respondent may also be referred to counselling, rehabilitation and/or programmes.
iv. For assistance and further information on such applications, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1800-6-668-668.
c. Third-Party Visit Limit
i. NCPG may impose a Third-Party Visit Limit if there is evidence that a local financially vulnerable patron is visiting the casino frequently. Individuals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account risk factors such as frequency and pattern of casino visits. These individuals may receive a letter from the NCPG, with a request to furnish information about their financial situation and to declare any indebtedness.
ii. To impose a Third-Party Visit Limit, NCPG will appoint a Committee of Assessors to evaluate an individual’s financial vulnerability, taking into consideration factors such as the frequency and pattern of casino visits in relation to his credit record and financial circumstances, work situation, as well as information provided by him and/or his family members. The limit imposed on an individual under Third-Party Visit Limit may differ from person to person, depending on each individual’s unique circumstances.
iii. Before the Committee of Assessors makes a Third-Party Visit Limit, there will be a reasonable opportunity for the individual to object to the proposed visit limit. Individuals imposed with Third-Party Visit Limit may be referred to counselling, rehabilitation and/or education programmes.
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