Gambling on Asia

Here in the US casinos are popping up all over the place. It used to be Vegas and Atlantic City, but now there casinos everywhere...most of these are either "Indian Casinos" or "Riverboat Casinos." Native Americans have decided to build profitable casinos on their land and cities near water have built "Riverboats" that rarely leave the dock. Within the last couple years Asia has decided to join the casino and gambling phenomenon...why have local people travel to the US when they can stay closer to home and have the same experience.

In April 2005 Singapore decided to add Vegas style casinos, with the hopes of creating jobs, increasing tourism, and ultimately increasing tourism revenues to the area. If they are successful the economic impacts will be great, with an expected $18 billion in tourist spending, triple what it is without the casinos. The casinos in Singapore are expected to open in 2009, and as well to increased tourist spending, 100,000 jobs are expected to be created. On the downside, some people are afraid of the potential social problems that the casinos will cause, such as gambling addictions in local residents. One proposal is to charge locals a daily membership fee in order to deter them from frequent visits, and monitor them to watch for signs of addiction. Singapore hopes the casinos will energize their economy through tourism by making them a more exciting Asian destination.