Yes, the casino is supposed to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars for the tourism industry. Many Singaporeans will be saved from poverty during this economic crisis. Visitors to Singapore will increase dramatically and children will have a new theme park to play in. As a precautionary measure to discourage Singaporeans from entering the casino, a fee of at least $100 will be charged. As you can see, there are many advantages.
However, I feel that the disadvantages are more. Firstly, I feel that the $100 fine is not an effective method to stop gamblers. Most gamblers go to a casino ready to win some money, possibly thousands. What is a hundred to them? Or maybe some have already lost a lot of money, losing a hundred more would not make a difference to them.
Secondly, a casino will cause many social problems. Addicts will become in debt and there may be broken families. As I mentioned above, there is an economic crisis. Perhaps a person who is unemployed wants to have a chance to strike it rich. He takes all his savings and gambles it all away in one night. In one night, his family has become bangkrupt. In the soundtrack on gambling addiction, Jonny W. lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, lost his job and got divorced. Another gambler, a woman, spent one year in jail for stealing money to gamble.
Thirdly, if many people in Singapore are addicted to gambling and lose a lot of money, the economic system of Singapore would be affected. Many gamblers who have lost money fall into depression and are unable to function at maximum capacity. As seen in a video, even famous people are not spared from gambling either. A well-known reporter neglected her child to gamble. If this addiction can affect even famous people, many not so well-known people will also fall into it.
Lastly, gambling is a habit that is impossible to erase completely. One gambler who had not gambled to 17 years could not resist the temptation and went gambling one more time. There is also and advertisment of a gambler who asks money from his children! Gambling brings out the worst in people. Thus, I do not think that a casino should be built.
My father also thinks that a casino should not be built. He feels that there are many more ways to generate revenue for the tourism industry such as theme parks, greenery and shopping hot-spots. A casino should only be used as a last resort.
