Casinos ready for Singapore

Singapore will announce next week whether it would allow a casino to be built after months of debate over whether economic benefits outweigh the social costs of expanding legalised gambling in Southeast Asia's most prosperous country.

The cabinet made the final decision, which will be announced in Parliament on Monday.

But the public nature of the debate underscored a degree of openness in decision-making in Singapore, where opposition to government policies is rare.

Nineteen of the world's top gaming companies have proposed projects.

Singapore hopes that billions spent on casinos with theme parks and hotels will grow its S$184 billion (US$112 billion) domestic economy, attract high-spending tourists and create hundreds of jobs, particularly for workers who don't have the skills for the high-tech jobs that Singapore now focuses on creating.

Nomura Singapore Ltd economist Tomo Kinoshita says a casino would likely boost Singapore's economy by 0.6% a year and create 13,000 jobs.

It is also expected to liven up Singapore's staid image.

A casino at home could attract hundreds of millions of dollars that Singaporeans spend each year gambling in Malaysia, Las Vegas, Macau, and other locations.