The 15-member National Council on Problem Gambling began its two-year term Wednesday, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport said.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said the council will advise the government on education programmes to raise public awareness on gambling ills.

"Although the casinos are not up and running yet, we still have a lot of people gambling," council chairman Lim Hock San was quoted as saying in the Straits Times Thursday.

"So we need to spread the word early that obsessive gambling is harmful to the individual and to his family as well."

The Singapore government in April announced that two Las Vegas-style casino resorts would be built by 2009 to spice up its staid image and attract more tourists.

A government survey released earlier this year showed that more than half of Singaporeans are gamblers.

Singaporeans, who enjoy a per capita income of about US$23,000, bet billions of dollars per year, legally or illegally, and are regular customers at Asian, Australian and US casinos.

The government rakes in US$800 million a year -- or $2.2 million per day -- in duties from strictly regulated horse racing, lotteries and sports betting.

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