by Jared Heng
The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore (CRA) has fined casino operators Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) for breaching social safeguard requirements.
MBS and RWS were slapped with a financial penalty of S$255,000 and S$130,000 respectively.
CRA said the casino operators were fined for breaching regulations under the Casino Control Act during the period 28 October 2010 to 30 April 2011, and 15 August 2010 to 30 April 2011 respectively.
The authority noted that MBS had let in 14 Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) without valid entry levies, while RWS allowed in five.
In addition, MBS allowed two SCPRs with expired entry levies to remain in the casino, while RWS did so with three.
CRA also found MBS guilty of admitting six persons on exclusion orders, and RWS of allowing in one such person.
Separately, MBS allowed two minors to enter the casino, while RWS admitted six minors. RWS was also separately censured for five cases of similar breaches.
Commenting on the breaches, Chief Executive of the CRA, Lau Peet Meng, said: “These social safeguards are put in place to mitigate the casino’s potential impact on vulnerable persons and to ring fence the casinos from potential criminal influence. Hence, we are taking tough disciplinary action against the casino operators for the cases where they have failed to show due care in complying with our requirements to prevent minors and excluded persons from entering the casinos, and to ensure that entry levies are duly paid.”
He added that the operators would need to improve their entry systems and processes, exercise more diligence in carrying out their checks, and comply fully with Singapore’s laws and regulations.
“CRA will not hesitate to take firm action against the operators should such incidents recur,” Lau said.
