Who says Singapore Casino job's aren't hot?

Thu, Aug 20, 2009
my paper




BY CHERYL LIM

MORE people than expected turned up for a conference session on floor positions in the integrated resorts (IRs), contrary to the perception that Singaporeans are not keen on taking up such jobs.

The session on career expectations and talent management in the gaming sector, which was part of the inaugural Gaming Asia Conference, drew 160 participants.

This exceeded the expected figure of 100 to 120, and more chairs had to be added, organiser Comexpo told my paper.

The two-day conference at the Singapore Expo, which started yesterday, brought together human resource and business leaders in the gaming industry from the United States, Macau and Singapore.

Earlier, upcoming integrated resort Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available. But later on Aug 1, it received more than 3,500 applications for 1,000 dealer positions at its job fair.

When asked about the possible reasons for Singaporeans shunning dealer jobs in the IRs, 61-year-old speaker Alan Soh, president of casino college Agmi International, said that a big reason is their aversion to shift work, which includes working on weekends and the graveyard shift. He said: 'They also feel the pay is a bit too low.'

The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Three months' training is provided.

But some Singaporeans do aspire to gain a foothold in the gaming sector as dealers with Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa.

Shatec graduate Daryl Gan, 21, who has a diploma in culinary skills and has already submitted an application to be a dealer, told my paper: 'The prospects, good pay and tips attract me. I intend to carve out my career in the IRs.

'I used to be a cook and so have experience in working the graveyard shift. I was also used to working up to 17 hours (at a stretch).'

Mr Gregory Huang, 29, was in bank sales and, like Mr Gan, is also a student of the pro-dealer programme at Agmi International.

'This is something new, it's exciting and I like the energy of the gaming industry. It also allows me to meet different people,' he said.