Gambling is a form of entertainment, but can turn into a serious problem when it becomes an addiction. There have been many channels for betting games available to Singaporeans offered by Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club. There has also been easy access to casinos in relatively close proximity in the Asia-Pacific region as well as on cruise ships for well-heeled Singaporeans to enjoy the game of luck. In 2010, two integrated resorts with their associated casinos also started operations in Singapore.
In response to society’s concern that gambling addiction and the attending social ills are kept at bay, social safeguards have been put in place through legislation that apply to the operation of the integrated resorts. The National Council on Problem Gambling was established in 2005 and it provides many programmes to promote responsible gambling and to support rehabilitative programmes for gambling addiction. The welfare sector and the professional counselling community have also been ramping-up their capacity to deal with problem gambling.
This roundtable features presentations on how different stakeholders in Australia and Canada have tried to address the issue of responsible gaming. Dr Jon Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Gaming Council, Ontario, and Dr Nerilee Hing, a Professor with the School of Tourism and Hospitality, and Head of the Centre for Gambling Education and Research, Southern Cross University, New South Wales will talk about the efforts to develop policy frameworks, help programmes as well as research strategies to prevent and understand gambling addiction. They will also share their country’s experiences on creating momentum for a multistakeholder approach to responsible gaming. This will lead to a discussion about what more that stakeholders in Singapore feel should be done to support responsible gambling and how it can be achieved.
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