Main - The Integrated Resorts: A Select Guide (English Version) - Resource Guides at National Library, Singapore

Background

On 18 April 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the government’s decision to build an integrated resort (IR) in two Singapore locations – Sentosa and Marina South by 2009. The IRs would comprise of casinos as well as hotel facilities, restaurants, entertainment, shopping and other leisure amenities. The aim was to boost the tourist industry, create more jobs and bolster the Singapore economy.

This decision sparked off wide-scale debate among Singaporeans, particularly those who objected to having a casino at our doorsteps, on the basis of religious and moral grounds. Others such as social workers were concerned with the potential negative social impacts arising from casinos such as gambling addiction and a rise in illegal money lending.

To limit the social impacts of casino gambling, safeguards have been proposed, such as restricting the admission of Singaporeans into casinos, implementing a system of exclusions and establishing a National Council on Gambling with the aim to help people cope with their gambling problems.

This resource guide is timely as we highlight some of the popular works and references to draw attention to the various facets of the proposed integrated resort such as art, architecture, design, the business aspects, history hospitality, casino and resort management, casino games and gambling addiction and treatment.

This guide should be useful to the planners, architects, the businessmen, not forgetting the students who are doing courses on this topic.

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