Gambling with the Gods

I have to say, despite all the “precautions” that Resorts World and Marina Bay Sands had undertaken by incorporating fengshui design elements and launching them at an auspicious hour, it appears lady luck has not been too kind to them.

I remembered all the hype by the mass media that said both casinos would bring in the jet-setting and elite high-rollers which could help spur the property market. The reality, however, was more prosaic.

Resorts World Sentosa received much flak from the public as it was flooded by foreign workers in the first five days of its operations hoping to bank in on the free flow of drinks.

Analysts that I have interviewed also say the property market has not benefited much from the casino’s opening. Rather, it is the recovering economy and increasing investor’s confidence that has helped fuel demand.

Perhaps, of even more concern is the harm it could potentially cause on our social fabric. Shortly after both casinos opened their doors, it appears that a spate of crime cases became the norm. Over at Resorts World, an Indonesian man was jailed four weeks for stealing a handphone after he lost money at the casino. Most recently, a man in his 60s was found dead in a room at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Over at Marina Bay Sands, a former employee of a contractor which supplies electricity to the casino was arrested for his alleged involvement in a power outage during a legal conference which resulted in the casino being sued. The embarrassing gaffe occurred when the Chief Justice of New South Wales was speaking.

And there’s more. Recently, a man was fined S$2,000 for stealing casino chips from the Marina Bay Sands casino. Shortly after, a Tanzanian man was charged with trying to cheat the casino of S$35,000 in a roulette game.

I cannot help but feel that these events are bad omens from the Gods, if you will, trying to tell us something.

As for the fengshui elements and advice, I suggest the two casinos ask for a refund.