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
30 June 2014

2. Overview Macau casinos Singapore casinos
Background and context
Revenue and visitors
Singapore casinos
Gambling revenue
Addressing the social ill
Internet gambling/Online gaming
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3. Geographical context
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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
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5. 30 June 2014

6. 30 June 2014

7. The Venetian, Macau
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8. Casino revenue growth 30 June 2014
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (May 2014)
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9. Who gambles in Macau? 30 June 2014
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (May 2014)
30 June 2014

10. Government benefit 30 June 2014
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (May 2014)
30 June 2014

11. Casino taxes (Macau patacas - millions)
Year
Tax revenue
Gaming taxes
Gaming’s contribution
2000
15,339
5,647
36.81%
2001
15,642
6,293
40.23%
2002
15,227
7,766
51.00%
2003
18,371
10,579
57.59%
2004
23,864
15,237
63.85%
2005
28,201
17,319
61.41%
2006
37,189
20,748
55.79%
2007
53,710
31,920
59.43%
2008
62,259
43,208
69.40%
2009
69,871
45,698
65.40%
2010
88,488
68,776
77.72%
2011
122,972
99,656
81.04%
2012
144,995
113,378
78.19%
2013
155,512
134,383
86.41%
Source: DSEC - Statistics and Census Service, Macao SAR Government (May 2014)
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12. Singapore– a competing Asian casino destination
Two ‘integrated resorts’ with a casino
Resorts World Sentosa (opened February 2010)
Marina Bay Sands (opened April 2010)
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13. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from Merlion Park
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14. 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
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15. Singapore visitors and betting tax collections
Source: Ministry of Trade and Finance (various years) Economic Survey of Singapore
30 June 2014

16. Betting taxes (million Singapore dollars)
Year
Tax revenue
Betting taxes
Gambling’s contribution
2002
21,484.0
1,523.0
7.09%
2003
20,735.9
1,566.2
7.55%
2004
22,689.7
1,521.9
6.70%
2005
25,201.0
1,530.9
6.07%
2006
28,718.3
1,548.3
5.39%
2007
36,061.3
1,665.0
4.62%
2008
37,508.6
1,776.6
4.74%
2009
32,272.4
1,726.2
4.89%
2010
40,662.2
2,119.6
5.21%
2011
46,171.8
2,342.7
5.07%
2012
48,755.1
2,342.0
4.80%
2013
51,176.2
2,340.9
4.57%
Source: Ministry of Trade and Finance (various years) Economic Survey of Singapore
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17. Addressing the social ills
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
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18. Additional Asian casino destinations
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19. Internet – the classic view
New Yorker cartoon by Peter Steiner, published 1993.
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20. 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
30 June 2014

21. Online gaming is dangerous
Corrupting influence on children
Money laundering
Terrorist finance
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22. Leicester Square, London
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