SINGAPORE -- A lady legislator has urged the government of Singapore to turn down the request of Las Vegas Sands for more land for expansion of its integrated casino resort.
Member of Parliament Denise Phua has also noted that Singapore has quickly become the Asia-Pacific region's second-largest gaming market after Macau and has suggested that stiffer fines and levies be imposed to discourage frequent visits by gamblers.
According to Phua:
"Let's put a lid on this industry whilst easy gaming revenue is still small and not let it grow so large that we become dependent on it for social services and it becomes impossible to give up."
She added that instead of awarding more land to foreign investors such as that demanded by LVS's Sheldon Adelson, Singaporean businesses should be the first to benefit from a possible demand for more space to hold meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and other events by allowing Singaporean groups to "develop world-class expertise in these service industries."
Phua has suggested that government should limit the development of integrated resorts to the current two -- LVS's Marina Bay Sands and Genting's Resorts World Sentosa -- and instead hone Singapore's expertise in developing tourism products and services. She added:
"Unlike babies, casinos strengthen neither economy nor society."
Source: Today
Posted: March 1, 2011
