PROBLEM GAMBLING CASES REFERRED TO COUNCIL

PROBLEM GAMBLING CASES REFERRED TO COUNCIL

7.

Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how many cases have been referred to the National Council for Problem

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Gambling for the past two years; and (b) how many individuals have requested for (i) themselves and (ii) their family members, to be excluded from entering gambling facilities at the integrated resorts since they commenced operation.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: My Ministry works closely with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to monitor and address the social impact of gambling, including casino gambling.

The NCPG has appointed Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre to treat the less serious problem gambling cases in the community. Those with more serious addiction problems are treated by the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) which offers clinical and counselling services. Both Tanjong Pagar and NAMS also engage with families, where the problem gambler refuses to come forward. This is because the family members also need counselling and support. The number of clients seen by Tanjong Pagar was 128 cases in 2008 and 134 cases in 2009. Up to June this year, 113 cases were seen, of which 44 were new clients. As for NAMS, the number of cases seen was 176 cases in 2008 and 290 cases in 2009. From January to June 2010, number of cases seen was 243, of which 130 were new clients.

Since family exclusion orders were made available in April 2009, NCPG has received 148 such applications and issued 123 orders. Of these, 113 were received after the first casino opened on 14th Feb 2010 and 92 orders were issued since then.

For self-exclusion orders, we have received 1,546 self-exclusion applications as at June this year, of which 88% (1,360) were received after the first casino opened.

While there has been an increase in numbers, this is not unexpected. There is greater awareness of the exclusion orders following NCPG's public education efforts. The increase in the number of casino exclusions is also expected as family members and individuals take active steps once the casinos open.

MCYS and NCPG will continue to monitor the situation with the introduction of the IRs. Should social problems arise, we will take steps to address them.

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