ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS
TMA 02
Name: Khin Sein Yu Khaing
Student ID: H1270622
MEMO
TO: Joyce Lim, Director of Department of Policies, Ministry of Home Affairs
FROM: Ivy Teo, Executive of Department of Policies, Ministry of Home Affairs
DATE: 28 September 2012
SUBJECT: Proposed Changes to the Casino Control Act
As you have requested, this report discusses the analysis and results of research on tackling social issues of gambling and Casino Control Act. This report details the effectiveness of enacted measures, the possible policy gap and the recommendations.
The Government has set up a national framework to tackle problem gambling. Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) and National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) are formed. CRA monitors and regulates Casinos according to Casino Control Act (CCA) as well as engaging with Government and public to formulate and strengthen the existing regulatory framework to enhance the social safeguards. On the other hand, NCPG engages more directly with public to formulate educational framework to reduce problem gambling as well as gauge effectiveness of programs, such as treatment, counseling etc. NCPG works with National Addiction Management Services (NAMS) to gauge level of treatment and counseling needed, especially for gambling addiction. CRA has censured and fined both casinos for violating social safeguards within the frame-work. NCPG has also embarked on advertising and educational materials to public- focusing on harmony and security of family as core reason to stay away from problem gambling.
The strongest social safeguards, however, sit in sections of CCA, which targets the patrons and gamblers themselves. The focal point will be the exclusion orders, which can be self-applied or family applied or automatically excluded for residents obtaining social welfare. As of May 2012, there are 93,000 people have been prescribed under this law
References: National Council on Problem Gambling. (2010, February 23). Press Release: NCPG Actively Engages Resorts World at Sentosa National Council on Problem Gambling. (2012, February 23). Press Release: Problem Gambling Rates Stable but Concerns about Low Income, Frequent Gamblers and Poor Self-Control Survey on Participation in Gambling Activities among Singapore Residents, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2012, from http://app1.mcys.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/publication/Gambling%20participation%20survey%202011.pdf National Council on Problem Gambling. (2012, August 17). Press Release: Stakeholders Support Casino Visit Limit and Urge NCPG to Form Responsible Gambling Forum 26, 2012, from http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/events/RT_Responsible%20gaming_090611/RT_Responsible%20Gaming_090611_report.pdf Sheralyn Tay. (2010, May-Jun). A Dangerous Game. LIFEWISE, 24-27. The Biggest Losers. (2011, May 16). The Economist online. Retrieved September 22, 2012, from http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/05/gambling