A patron at the recently opened casino at Resorts World Sentosa reported to the press that she saw other patrons smoking in the casino. Since there is a law in Singapore banning indoor smoking, Singaporeans are questioning the double standards in the enforcement of the no-smoking indoor ban.
Is there a double standard when it comes to the IRs in Singapore?
Evidently yes because the National Environment Agency (NEA) has said that smoking is allowed within the gambling halls at Resorts World Sentosa as well as the upcoming Marina Bay Sands.
So you have it! The Singapore government is so desperate to ensure the success of the casinos that they will willingly bend the rules/laws of the country to accommodate them!
Needless to say, I find this stupid. Now I am one of those in Singapore who is unsure about the success of the casinos; I’m just not that 100% they will succeed, but I’m sure that the success or failure of the casinos will have little to nothing to do with allowing smoking in the casinos!
Simply put, not all gamblers are smokers and not all smokers are gamblers. How would allowing smokers in the gambling halls of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands ensure the success of the IRs?
It can’t. If the Singapore government really want to ensure the success of the casinos, then they should get rid of the $100 entrance charge for Singaporeans. I am sure that would be more successful than allowing smoking in the casinos because I know of a lot of Singaporeans who do NOT go to the casinos due to the entrance charge.
Smoking? I’m sure no one pay the $100 entrance fee just to smoke in the casino.
4 comments:
Actually, they have smoking rooms in the casino, much like in some clubs. Small rooms filled with all smokers. So its not like you can smoke all over the casino. Just in designated smoking areas.
But yeah, its kind of a double standard.
Tourists determine the success of the casino, not locals. You don't want locals in your casino. Gambling addiction is very very very bad. It destroys families, lives.
To get foreigners to your casino, you have to compete against Genting / Macau, so you just have to accept the smoking. It's part of the game.
Yes, it's a double standard. But a pretty smart one I would say; stimulate economy by casinos and tourism, and protect the locals.
I understand where everyone is coming from. It’s part of the casino game but I feel it’s an unnecessary double standard. Not only is it unfair to other business, people (tourist & Singaporeans) go to the casino to gamble, not to smoke. I just seriously doubt how much more business the casino can get just by allowing smoking indoors.
Time will tell...
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