A report on how Singaporeans as well as foreigners have been affected by this new attraction, was featured. There were initial problems on its first day but these are in the process of being resolved. For example, signs warning patrons about a long waiting time have been put up to counter the unexpected waiting period of 2 hours on the first day. Also, the food outlets are now open at all times as opposed to those who could not provide enough food then.
The negative effects are the way some Singaporeans exhibit such extreme xenophobia and the addiction some foreign visitors show towards gambling in the casino, to the extent that they leave their children outside the casino for a long period of time while they indulge.
The views of some locals towards the presence of foreign workers in the casino repulses me to no end. The possibility that they lose their hard-earned money is not the business of the locals. In the first place, do they truly care about that or is that just an excuse conjured to oppose the presence of the workers?
A few locals find it unfair that they are charged $100 as an entrance fee while the workers are exempted from it. This fee is really for our own good. It is our government's way of looking out for us. It deters us from getting addicted to the vice. Perhaps they are getting addicted and hence complain about it? A comment that bigger players a.k.a those who fork out a lot of money gambling, should be catered more to, confirms my previous statement.
They are also unhappy about the workers taking too many drinks. The drinks are free and so any patron has the right to take as many as he wants. The casino has clarified this point. I think the locals are just being prejudiced towards the foreign workers. I do not hear them complaining about the foreign tourists. Besides, there are locals who exhibit bad behaviour as well. Some local gamblers verbally express themselves in such a way as to cause more civilized patrons to cringe. The complainers really know how to choose their battles.
Thank goodness there are also mature locals who feel differently. The casino is for anyone who meets the requirements imposed on its guests, regardless of nationality. The foreign workers work very hard for their families and need to find ways to take breaks from their tiring jobs, so as to reenergise themselves. Why make it difficult for them by such complaints? The spokesman from the casino said something which summarises things best. He implied that foreign workers are the foundation stones beneath our buildings, specifically the IRs. In this case, there is no reason for us to be so biased towards them.
Some foreign patrons regard gambling as more important than their own flesh and blood. It can be that this vice has a very strong grip on its addicts but I prefer to believe that their self-discipline is sorely lacking. The worse thing is that some children have no adult to look after them. If anything should happen to them, it is the parents' fault. It is heartbreaking to read about them feeling bored and only coming alive whenever performances are held. In order to pass time, some played with the plants nearby. Can anyone blame them? They are forced to wait till night in some cases. Thankfully, RWS has included a kids' club to cater to such cases. :)
