SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is looking at new ways to help curb gambling problems in the country and has announced it may set limits a gambler may bet at the city-state's two casinos. Proposed changes to the Casino Control Act have been under consultation for the past month and the idea of setting bet limits is seen as a way to safeguard the amount of money spent by casinogoers. Already, the Casino Control Act limits the number of times a gambler is allowed to visit a casino monthly. Illegal gambling seems to be on the rise in the city-state after the government announced had added 15,000 additional persons to a list of those barred from entering the city-state's two casinos, and added that it would amend the Casino Control Act, the government said in a statement. Among the proposals are amendments that would restrict the number of visits to the two gaming locations in the country, Channel NewsAsia said in its report. According to government officials, families and individuals can apply for a “visit limit" under the amendment. It comes as the government looks to change its 6-year old casino law in order to combat “criminal activities, strengthen social safeguards and improve tax administration," according to the statement on the Ministry of Home Affair's website. “With the benefit of practical experience in regulating and managing the casinos over the past two years, a review of the casino regulatory regime and the Casino Control Act is therefore timely," according to the statement. The new bans came into affect on July 1 and include residents who receive financial aid from the government, the ministry of community development, youth and sports said in a statement last month.
