Saturday, April 4, 2009

SINGAPORE CASINO AND ITS EXCLUSION ORDER

Was chilling out with some friends at a cafe this evening during our casual chit chat, a interesting topic arises
A friend was pretty much interested in patronizing a casino frequently
hence we are discussing if a exclusion order can be imposed on him by his wife-to-be.

To my surprise, he told me "NO" if he did not agree to the exclusion
personally the order will not be imposed even if family members insisted.

WHY NOT??

His VERSION of research on family exclusion (as much as i can remember, cuz its so complicated):
1) Family member apply for exclusion order
2) Assessment to be made based on Counseling sessions for both family and gambler in person
3) 28 days later, family and gambler will be counselled again to confirm
their actions for exclusion
4) Gambler will have to acknowleged and agreed personally for the Order to take place
5) The Exclusion Order will be valid for 2 years, and Gambler can request for it to be revoke.

Fucking Hell! Make the whole procedure so difficult and complicated in order for exclusion to impose, worse of all, the gambler will have to agree willingly if not the exclusion will not be imposed!

What is the use of application then? Make life difficult for the family or to allow gamblers easy access to the casino? In the 1st place, if compulsive gamblers know they have a problem themselves, family members will not have to go through all the trouble to apply for exclusion right? Stupid fucking policy.. make no sense

Worse, say if the application was made against someone who have a potential to be a complusive gambler but yet to have a bad record. It will not be enforced as long as that person has a stable job and no gambling debts to start with.
Then what, must wait until that person starts and become a compulsive gambler, become abusive and almost turning into a bankrupt before he/she qualifies?

With doubts, I decided to google for more info..and what he explains was true..
which i think was ridiculous!

Why would a compulsive gambler agreed to a exclusion order order willing?
In that sense, isnt it redundant for the family member to apply for it in the 1st place?!

These were what i found while googling:
1)To banned an individual from casino entry, the family member
have to file a application with Tanjong Pager Family Service Center (FSC).
2) FSC will arrange a counselling session with the family members and the problem gambler.
3) Upon reviewing the case, it will looked into by a Committee of
Assessors (COA) if its passed through.
4) The application can still be passed even if the Problem Gambler
refused to attend the counselling as long as the family member provide
valid ground and cause of the gambling problem.

At this moment, everything seems normal UNTIL the next step!
5) A PROBLEM GAMBLER CAN APPEAL AGAINST THE EXCLUSION ORDER

Can someone please enlighten me... what the FUCK is the Exclusion Order for??
In the name of society welfare and commitment to responsible gambling, EXCLUSION ORDER was introduced, but with so many grey areas..

I cant help to wonder, is this order really helping the Family concerned to end their suffering or giving more excuses for compulsive gamblers to continue gambling? Because to them, even the professional thinks their gambling habits is not so serious till the extend that they require restriction legally, so its okay to continue!

Isnt it so contradicting? If a compulsive gambler is aware of his/her gambling habits and the impact it brings , then he would have apply for self-exclusion to the casino. Otherwise it only make sense for his own family to ban his/her access to the casino.

Obviously when we say problem/compulsive gambler, I would actually classified that person as addicted to gambling and highly possible of having psychological problem. They cannot control/restrict themselves against any form of gambling. Just the same reason why you would locked a drug addict in confinement! So who in the right mind will signed him/herself off from casino entry? CRAP!

Then again, there is this S$100 entry fee imposed on S'porean, purpose is to deter locals from gambling.

Please lah, go and think lor.... If a compulsive gambler can choke up ten/hundreds thousands of debts , what is S$100 to them??

If they go all the way to Genting just to quench their thirst of gamble, it will have cost like S$150 at least for a 3days 2 night trip already. So what is $100, compare to the transport and accomodation they have to pay in Genting, its already a savings! Especially when they would have two casino to choose from..

Then on SANDS webby, there is a page on 'Reponsible Gambling'.
Its purpose is to serves as a commitment to their Guest on 'How to Identify a Problem Gambler'... blah blah and professional help is available... blah blah.

So means what,
Say if the casino management and staffs have noticed 1 of their guest
gambling more than 12hrs a day and persistently for days/weeks/month
and show signs as a Problem Gambler.
Will Sands send this particular guest to counseling and ban him/her from casino entry??!

I guess NOT IMPOSSIBLE right?

Therefore, the whole Idea and talk of helping the society from problem gambling is just a whole load of bullcrap to me because it just doesnt make sense.
With so much grey areas and allowances, who are you really trying to help or should i say will it resolve the problem for Problem Gamblers and their family ultimately?!


IF whatI have interpret is wrong somewhere, can somebody out there enlighten me pls!

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