Official opposes legalization of casinos in Singapore

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 | 11:19 a.m.

SINGAPORE -- Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has shot down a proposal to legalize casinos in Singapore, warning that social dangers outweigh potential revenues from such a move, Agence France-Press reported, citing the Business Times.

The Times said Lee, who is also finance minister and is being groomed to be the next prime minister, made it clear that Singaporean gamblers cannot bet on casinos being allowed anytime soon.

A working group for the Economic Review Committee, also headed by Lee, has proposed that casinos be legalized to promote tourism, AFP reported.

"No, I don't think so," the newspaper quoted Lee as saying when asked by local reporters over the weekend whether Singaporeans can look forward to having a casino.

"We've studied this many times, and everytime there is a recession someone thinks that it might be a good idea to make some money," Lee said, AFP reported.

"But we have to consider the social implications of it, and I would not support it."