1. Gambling as Strategies for Economic Development: The Case of Macau and Singapore
Dr William Vlcek
Lecturer in International Relations
School of International Relations
University of St Andrews, Scotland
5 July 2013

2. Overview Macau casinos Singapore casinos
Background and context
Revenue and visitors
Singapore casinos
Gambling revenue
Addressing the social ill
Internet gambling/Online gaming
5 July 2013

3. Geographical context
5 July 2013

4. Liberalising the casino license
In 1961, a monopoly license to operate casinos
Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macao (STDM), majority owner Stanley Ho
Return of Macau to Chinese governance, 1999
Three casino licenses granted in 2002
Galaxy Casino SA – Galaxy Casino and Venetian Macao
Wynn Resorts (Macao), sub-conscession to Melco PBL Jogos (Macau)
Sociedade de Jogos de Macau SA (SJM), sub-conscession to MGM Grand Paradise SA
5 July 2013

5. 5 July 2013

6. 5 July 2013

7. The Venetian, Macau
5 July 2013

8. Casino revenue growth 5 July 2013
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (June 2012)
5 July 2013

9. Who gambles in Macau? 5 July 2013
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (June 2012)
5 July 2013

10. Government benefit 5 July 2013
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (June 2012)
5 July 2013

11. Singapore– a competing Asian casino destination
Two ‘integrated resorts’ with a casino
Resorts World Sentosa (opened February 2010)
Marina Bay Sands (opened April 2010)
5 July 2013

12. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from Merlion Park
5 July 2013

13. Singapore – gambling revenue
Total gross gaming revenue for 2011 was ‘almost US$6 billion’.
For 2011 Singapore collected ‘betting taxes’ of US$1.84 billion
5 July 2013

14. Addressing the social ill
Citizens and permanent residents pay an entrance fee (S$100 per visit or S$2,000 for an annual pass)
‘Around’ 200,000 residents visited a casino in 2011
Government maintains a list of ‘excluded persons’ the casinos must prevent from entering the gaming rooms
5 July 2013

15. Internet – the classic view
New Yorker cartoon by Peter Steiner, published 1993.
5 July 2013

16. Internet gambling, ‘offshore’
Antigua-Barbuda, Costa Rica, Gibraltar, Isle of Man
WTO Dispute Case DS285: United States — Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services
5 July 2013

17. Online gaming is dangerous
Corrupting influence on children
Money laundering
Terrorist finance
5 July 2013

18. Leicester Square, London
5 July 2013