Asian Economic News: Nearly 5,000 scramble for 50 gambling shops in Singapore

SINGAPORE, May 29 Kyodo

Nearly 5,000 individuals and firms have applied to Singaporean authorities to run 50 new gambling shops in the country to cash in on a surging interest in games of chance, a spokeswoman for Singapore Pools said Monday.

Singapore Pools Pte. Ltd., Singapore's biggest operator of lotteries and other games of chance, had received 4,794 applications by the Friday deadline to run the new outlets under its chain, the spokeswoman said.

Singaporeans are showing an increasing interest in gambling, especially with jackpots increasing in recent years to millions of Singapore dollars.

Last week, it was estimated that the offer had attracted about 2,000 applicants.

Fully owned by the Singapore government's investment holding company, Temasek Holdings Pte. Ltd., Singapore Pools has 150 betting shops in its stable.

It operates five games of chance and a soccer betting game, introduced last year.

The government supports the move to expand the outlets, saying it will steer people away from illegal gambling dens.