Macau's casinos:Boon and bane

Straits Times 11 May 2006

I FULLY agree that the casinos are both good and bad. However, i feel that it is has more disadvantages then advantages. Indeed, unemployment has decreased by a significant number, bringing more revenue and more tourists arrival as a result of the casinos. On the other hand, there is a great increase in the number of school dropouts. I feel that this has a negative impact on the society. This could also hamper economic development with such labour shortage in other industries. From my point of view, it will not be good if the country relies heavily on the gaming industry. I feel that there will be many more social conflicts than the benefits the industry generates. It was a shocking news to me that the number of students quitting school for full-time work was at its highest in the past seven years. There was a comment that many students feel that they could still work in casinos if they fail academically. Their enthusiasm for academic work has dwindled in recent years. It is very true that the values of the society will be distorted by the gaming culture if nothing is done to prevent it. It is very worrying for Singapore that we will be put in a similar position. This would have a very strong impact on the literacy rate and psycological problems as a result of gambling addiction. Possibly, the ban on foreign croupiers will likely be impossible to maintain in the coming years as the number of gaming tables in Macau explodes.