PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
Migrant workers tearing up outside a casino was a common sight that Mr Abul Hossain Tuhin, 40, witnessed in the mornings after his night shifts there as a project coordinator at a construction company.
“I asked them why they were crying. They shared that they’d lost all their salary at the casino and had to borrow money from others,” recalled Mr Tuhin, who’s from Bangladesh and has been working in Singapore for almost two decades.
“They promised themselves not to go inside anymore. But the next month, once their salary came in, the same thing happened again.”
These scenes broke his heart and made him realise that he had to do something to help stop this vicious cycle.
In 2022, he joined the inaugural cohort of an ambassador programme spearheaded by the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to spread awareness about responsible gambling among his peers.
Mr Tuhin has been serving as a C.a.N Ambassador for the past four years. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
The initiative is a collaboration between the CID’s Casino Crime Investigation Branch (CCIB) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Migrant workers selected for this role are called C.a.N Ambassadors.
Those who apply undergo an interview and are assessed on a number of factors, including their ability to communicate in English. They are also required to work in Singapore for more than two years.
“It’s really meaningful for me because so many of my fellow countrymen don’t know how to solve their problems,” Mr Tuhin said.
On 18 January 2026, he was reappointed as a C.a.N Ambassador to serve his third term, at an appointment ceremony held at the Police Cantonment Complex Auditorium.
The Ambassadors are trained to educate fellow migrant workers about problematic gambling behaviours. They also share crime prevention advisories with the CCIB’s guidance, and help guide peers towards available support, such as casino self-exclusion. Each Ambassador must participate in at least one outreach session at dormitories or recreational centres during their two-year term.
Over the years, ASP Lee has seen more ambassadors joining the Police’s outreach sessions and more workers asking how to stay away from gambling. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lee Chen Hooi, Deputy Officer-in-Charge of the CCIB, said common offences committed within casinos include stealing casino chips and claiming other patrons’ winnings.
“Such incidents are encountered from time to time,” he shared. “Some migrant workers may be more exposed to gambling-related risks, as they are not subject to the $150 entry levy imposed on Singaporeans and permanent residents when entering casinos.”
The C.a.N Ambassadors are also responsible for identifying workers who display signs of gambling addiction and guiding them on how to apply for casino self-exclusion orders (to restrict themselves from entering casinos).
From 2024 to 2025, the Ambassadors conducted outreach at over 20 dormitories, reaching thousands of migrant workers. Their efforts supported timely interventions and helped foster a stronger culture of responsible gambling within their community.
On top of this programme, the CCIB conducts separate gambling-related talks for migrant workers at worksites in collaboration with the Community Policing Units (CPUs) of Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs).
Commencing the Mission
The appointment ceremony on 18 January recognised 46 ambassadors – 24 reappointed and 22 newly appointed – with representatives from the SPF, the NCPG and partner agencies in attendance.
A short video montage was played at the start to showcase outreach sessions conducted at migrant worker dormitories in 2025.
DAC Wang thanked the C.a.N Ambassadors for their contributions at the appointment ceremony. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
In his opening speech, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Eugene Wang, Assistant Director of the CID’s Specialised Crime Division, expressed his appreciation to the Ambassadors who dedicate their personal time to assist the SPF in sharing crime prevention advice with their peers.
“We’ve encountered cases where migrant workers were arrested for casino-related crimes and it’s heartbreaking to see them repatriated after serving their sentence,” he said. “They lose not only their hard-earned salaries but also future employment opportunities in Singapore.”
Mr Panneerselvam Siranjeevi is a newly appointed C.a.N Ambassador. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
The continued success of this programme is made possible through strong support from other SPF units, such as NPC’s CPUs, the Community Partnership Department, as well as other partner agencies such as Ministry of Manpower, Migrant Workers’ Centre and NCPG.
Voices of Vigilance
Since 2022, Mr Tuhin has successfully persuaded six migrant workers to apply to exclude themselves from casinos.
To get them to open up, he’d talk about the “two faces” of migrant workers he observed at casinos – looking calm and happy as they entered at night but utterly devastated the following morning.
“You might win some money, but 99% of the time, you lose your money,” he said.
One of his friends lost all $15,000 of his life savings and accumulated another $2,000 in debt. Mr Tuhin only realised something was wrong when his friend stopped joining their Sunday cricket games.
Mr Tuhin believes that having a good friend around can help someone overcome life’s greatest challenges. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
Over dinner, his friend finally shared what had happened. Mr Tuhin counselled him and even helped call his friend’s family to explain the situation. The former addict signed a self-exclusion order, received help from his friends to repay his debts and is now working to rebuild his savings.
Mr Tuhin said: “I had no one to guide me when I first arrived in Singapore. So I feel a sense of achievement that I can now be the one helping my fellow Bangladeshis from going astray.”
Enlisting Allies
ASP Lee acknowledged the impact of problem gambling on migrant workers and their families: “When a worker gets his work permit cancelled, it affects not just himself, but his family as well, especially if there are young children involved.”
C.a.N. Ambassadors distributing flyers during an engagement session at Kranji Recreation Centre in December 2024. PHOTO: SPF
ASP Lee said having migrant workers share information about problem gambling with their peers has proven to be effective. “They can speak in their mother tongue to their peers, so there’s a stronger sense of trust and closeness,” he explained.
The C.a.N Ambassadors also play a vital role in acting as intermediaries between their friends and the Police. If they have any casino-related questions, the Ambassadors will consult the Police and then relay accurate information to their peers.
Newly appointed ambassador Mr Panneerselvam Siranjeevi, 36, shared that migrant workers do not earn a lot of money, especially at the start of their careers, so he knows the value of every dollar.
Before joining the programme, Mr Panneerselvam Siranjeevi witnessed his colleague becoming addicted to gambling but didn’t know how to help. PHOTO: Ahmad Fawwaz
However, he observed that some newly arrived migrant workers have the wrong impression that they can make money faster by gambling.
“The right way to earn money is the consistent way. If we’re thinking about shortcuts, it’s always a losing battle,” he said. “We come to Singapore to work hard and seek a better life for our families. So, there’s no point in losing everything at casinos. I hope no one falls into that trap, and if they do, I’ll try to get them out.”