Fewer locals visit the casinos; only 7.7 per cent made more than one visit in past 3 years

Only 7.7 per cent of locals here made more than one visit to the two casinos here in the past three years, said the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) on Wednesday. The figures were made public for the first time in CRA's latest annual report. -- ST F
Only 7.7 per cent of locals here made more than one visit to the two casinos here in the past three years, said the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) on Wednesday. The figures were made public for the first time in CRA's latest annual report. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Only 7.7 per cent of locals here made more than one visit to the two casinos here in the past three years, said the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) on Wednesday. The figures were made public for the first time in CRA's latest annual report.

The Authority however did not give a further breakdown on the number of times this group of locals made to the casinos. CRA said that the vast majority of the remaining 92.3 per cent did not visit the casinos at all.

The total number of visits to the casinos by Singaporeans and permanent residents has also dropped, in a sign that the novelty factor could be wearing off, said CRA chairman Richard Magnus in his foreword.

They made a daily average of 17,000 visits last year, down from 20,000 visits when the casinos first opened in 2010. CRA also attributed the drop in the number of casino visits to the effectiveness of its safeguards in deterring vulnerable individuals from problem gambling.

It added that the casino levy entry remains one of its most stringent safeguards. A total of $174 million in entry levies - both daily and annual - was collected last year, a dip from $216 million in 2010.

Casino crime has also dropped from 1 per cent in 2010 to 0.7 per cent last year.

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