BARELY opened for five days, local punters are already expressing their dissatisfaction with the large number of foreign workers who enter the casino for free to enjoy free beverages.
Lianhe Wanbao received feedback from a reader who told the Chinese dailies that ever since the casino at Resorts World Sentosa (RSW) opened, there had been an inlux of foreign workers who would use their foreign passport or work permit to enter for free and instead of gambling, they were there for the free drinks.
One such casino patron was Dr Felix Ong, Group Executive Chairman and CEO of Singapore Exchange, who visited the casino on the second day of Chinese New Year.
He said that his mood was dampened when he saw large groups of foreign workers and left after spending less than two hours there.
Dr Ong told Lianhe Wanbao that: "It’s a great thing that Singapore’s first casino is attracting so many people. However, the foreign workers who stay inside for long periods, mostly did not gamble.
"They were there to use the facilities such as toilets and drinks, depriving other gamblers of their game."
He also added: "The casino provides free drinks but you have to get it yourself. It is almost impossible to do so due to the large group of foreign workers loitering around.
Dr Ong’s friend, Mr Zhuo, 43, manager of an investment company, expressed that he could not stand it and left within the first hour.
A reader also told Lianhe Wanbao that he saw many foreign workers napping on the floor and went over to the tables to look at the game once they woke up.
"One table would have six or seven players, with more than 10 onlookers being foreign workers. Those who wished to play would not even have a chance to go near the tables to place their bets," said the reader.
Local patrons have already asked the authorities to take notice of this situation and have also suggested that the workers be charged a casino levy, similar to the levy imposed on Singaporean citizens and PRs.
A spokesperson from the National Council on Problem Gambling told Lianhe Wanbao that the casino entrance fee was made solely for Singapore citizens and PRs as a deterrent towards problem gambling.
