The Singapore government has announced that it has been on the receiving end of a great bonanza. The minister for community development, youth and sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan announced publicly that the government had already hit $70 million in casino entry revenue from the levy off the two casinos Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, recently opened this year. The levy is collected off local Singaporeans who wish to enter the casinos. Gamblers with a foreign passport are exempt from the levy.

When the minister was questioned over the use of the funds, Dr Balakrishnan responded that the casino entry levies were managed by the Singapore Totalisator Board, which are mainly directed at funding community projects. Much of the funds will be used to ensure the social costs of gambling are minimised with other funds used towards strengthening other community projects like health, education and environment.

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