Taiwan should apply strategic measures to avoid problem gambling if it wants to develop the controversial industry on outlying islands, academics and industry experts said at a conference to examine the feasibility of the country legalizing gambling.
The conference on Friday came amid signs of rekindled interest in developing casino resorts on the islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu following the success of gambling in Singapore.
Carlos Siu, associate professor of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, said the Taiwanese government must take more aggressive action on a proposed gaming act in Taiwan.
The draft bill, which was presented by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in April, has drawn strong opposition from residents.
Siu said the government should first decide whether to hold a single administration responsible, or ask several departments, such as the Tourism Bureau and the Department of Health, to supervise the industry.
“The gambling industry is related to so many aspects of society, and the government needs to be very certain about what it wants to achieve to avoid a backlash,” he said.
Not only should schools teach the concept of responsible gaming to children, Siu said casino staff should also be trained to recognize if patrons are problem gamblers and refer them for help.
To achieve that goal in practice, however, casino staff members must be “very, very careful,” said William Weidner, former president of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Weidner suggested that staff should avoid directly interfering in the gambling process and instead help problem gamblers come to their own conclusion that they need help.
He said his casino has found that addicted gamblers are more likely to “go across the street and gamble even more” if they are told to stop.
However, a tactful “Do you want to take a break?” question will do more, he said.
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