Gambling in heartland cause for concern
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extracted from ST forums.
THE report, 'Hooked on gambling? Help coming to the heartland' (ST, Oct 2
, is turning out to be a very big irony.
The Government seems very concerned that the coming integrated resorts (IRs) will pose a serious threat to citizens' ability to resist gambling, but are we not already gambling up to our eyeballs, and right in the heartland?
Let's face it: Singapore Pools, with its hundred over outlets, has successfully brought gambling to our doorsteps. It's almost impossible to find a Singapore Pools outlet without a long queue on any day.
If gambling is bad for our financial health, why did the Government allow Singapore Pools to open so many outlets in the heartland?
And did we ever hear an MP raise objection to this infestation of gambling in the heartland?
The easy accessibility to placing bets is not only eroding our work ethic and churning out thousands of addicts, but it is also a very bad influence on the thousands of teenagers who live so close to these betting outlets.
Some may argue that wagering a little money on 4D every draw is quite harmless, but are they aware several billions of dollars are lost to Singapore Pools, plus another billion or two to illegal operators?
Could this be one of the causes of the emergence of the New Poor in Singapore, and also the average 350 personal bankruptcies every month?
In fact, when you compare the 'house advantage' of a typical casino game like roulette (2.7 per cent) to that of 4D (40 per cent), you will realise why we are so broke playing 4D.
If you take a good look at the people patronising the Singapore Pools outlets you cannot help but conclude that most of them are low-income earners and poor housewives.
Why talk about helping the poor and the gambling addicts when, on the other hand, the Singapore Pools outlets make it so easy for them to lose their last dollar?
Another very bad sign I have observed among young people is that more and more of them have taken to soccer betting, thanks in no small part to the creativity of Singapore Pools in offering a wide variety of bets, and right at our doorstep.
Have we forgotten the saying that it is easy to pick up a bad habit in three days, but impossible to give it up forever?
If our future generation is more interested in making a quick buck than an honest living, what hope do we have to preserve the prosperity of the nation?
I am not totally against gambling, because all of us have a little bit of risk-taking in our genes, which experts say will help us to progress.
In fact, the coming IRs are good for our economy, although a few lives may be ruined. But then again, we are old enough to know what we are walking into, and IRs are not free to get in, and not so accessible too.
The way I see it, the only Exclusion Order we need to take out is to ban Singapore Pools from the heartland.
Mike Wong Kee Meng -
he is asking the govt to do the impossible.
even if the govt agrees, its citizens definitely wont. -
I agree. To those Heartlanders it is buying a little bit of hope.
Anyway, not a fan of 4D or any form of gambling though the problem is there. -
the only result from his suggestion is people moving underground. the illegal bookies will make even more.
sometimes people like to make suggestions without thinking. -
Actually that is one reason why they legalised soccer bettingOriginally posted by dragg:the only result from his suggestion is people moving underground. the illegal bookies will make even more.
sometimes people like to make suggestions without thinking. -
Do not blame the govt for everything.
If someone wants to gamble, no matter where he is, he WILL find the means to gamble! -
Do not blame the govt for everything.
If someone wants to gamble, no matter where he is, he WILL find the means to gamble! -
hmm.. so u mean it is ok if govt provide many places for gamble? it is not true.. growing up in a gambling environment or exposing to it surely increases the probability of one gambling..
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So not true!Originally posted by Madinchess:hmm.. so u mean it is ok if govt provide many places for gamble? it is not true.. growing up in a gambling environment or exposing to it surely increases the probability of one gambling..
So, growing up in a neighbourhood with shops, malls, and fast food restaurants means that since one's exposed to all that, one will become obese and a spendthrift chalking up huge credit card debts?
I'm applying the same trend of logic you're using. -
I know someone who is brought up in an family whom no one gambles but he still picked up the gambling habit and lost $5,000 in a casino.Originally posted by Rhonda:Do not blame the govt for everything.
If someone wants to gamble, no matter where he is, he WILL find the means to gamble!
Therefore I do agree that if someone wants to gamble, no matter where he is, he will find the means to. This is because the mentality of a gambler is to get rich quick without the hassle of work and time being put in. -
Precisely!Originally posted by elindra:I know someone who is brought up in an family whom no one gambles but he still picked up the gambling habit and lost $5,000 in a casino.
Therefore I do agree that if someone wants to gamble, no matter where he is, he will find the means to. This is because the mentality of a gambler is to get rich quick without the hassle of work and time being put in.
It's an individual's choice and responsibility!
If a person is a hardcore gambler, even if the govt doesn't legalise gambling, they'll simply go underground or book themselves on one of those cruises or go overseas!
The govt is simply tapping into this avenue for extra revenue, and pouring the money back into gambling addiction help programs, etc.
(eg. refurbishing a few wards in IMH to become wards to house patients with addiction problems). -
Actually it be pretty stupid of the government not to tap on this avenue since people are basically throwing their money away.Originally posted by Rhonda:Precisely!
It's an individual's choice and responsibility!
If a person is a hardcore gambler, even if the govt doesn't legalise gambling, they'll simply go underground or book themselves on one of those cruises or go overseas!
The govt is simply tapping into this avenue for extra revenue, and pouring the money back into gambling addiction help programs, etc. (eg. refurbishing a few wards in IMH to become wards to house patients with addiction problems).
Plus it is in a way indirect additional income tax -
Bingo!!Originally posted by elindra:Actually it be pretty stupid of the government not to tap on this avenue since people are basically throwing their money away.
Plus it is in a way indirect additional income tax
I would collect the extra income, and put it to good use, just like how Singapore Pools often donates to charities. -
about gambling, at work, i'm surrounded by chronic gamblers
i was chastised for not betting on 4D when i bought my car.. it was worse when my car number came out first prize
one of the dudes even called me up 2 minutes after the results to rant at me
that aside, there was this dude who bought a lot (and i mean a LOT) of 4D.. so innocently, i asked him how much prizes he won.. he thought about it and said.. about $12,000
i said to him, not bad.. how much did you spend?
he thought about it and said.. about $17,000
now.. he spent $5,000 on lining up, being anxious and all kinds of other things.. not to mention each time he struck a prize, he went to splurge and then buy even more 4D..
when asked why not give up totally and save that $5,000, he said if any of the usual numbers he thought of came out, he'd go nuts..
i think, therein is the answer.. they're obsessive about things that may happen and cannot let go.. -
Alright, so that's their raison d'etre for sustaining their gambling habit.
Whatever reason there is, they still exercised a choice to actually indulge in their habit.
Whether or not there's a gambling booth near their place of residence / work, is a secondary issue! -
i am an ardent supporter of singapore pools.
i had a good year in 2001 winning 36500.
i lost all in 4 yrs.
now i am cutting back. but i have no regrets. to me it is just money spent. it makes no difference if i spend it on gambling or food or anything for that matter, as long as i dont gamble into trouble. -
Dragg, thought you were on a job hunt?Originally posted by dragg:i am an ardent supporter of singapore pools.
i had a good year in 2001 winning 36500.
i lost all in 4 yrs.
now i am cutting back. but i have no regrets. to me it is just money spent. it makes no difference if i spend it on gambling or food or anything for that matter, as long as i dont gamble into trouble. -
long time since i applied for a job.Originally posted by Rhonda:Dragg, thought you were on a job hunt?
sianzzz. -
Wow... you can sustain yourself for so long too. Impressive.Originally posted by dragg:long time since i applied for a job.
sianzzz.
Have you stopped trying? Don't, ok. You never know when you might get your lucky break!
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financially i am still ok.Originally posted by Rhonda:Wow... you can sustain yourself for so long too. Impressive.
Have you stopped trying? Don't, ok. You never know when you might get your lucky break!
sold all my shares and if i have to i will surrender my insurance for cash.
but i am really bored doing nothing. -
Than get a job!Originally posted by dragg:financially i am still ok.
sold all my shares and if i have to i will surrender my insurance for cash.
but i am really bored doing nothing. -
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Would you consider just getting a job, any job, in the meantime?Originally posted by dragg:financially i am still ok.
sold all my shares and if i have to i will surrender my insurance for cash.
but i am really bored doing nothing.
Y'know, I actually wouldn't mind taking on jobs like cashiering or working behind a Fast Food / 7-Eleven's / Cold Storage / HMV / Borders / Kinokuniya counter, if it's just an interim job. -
got buy then got chance.
give them a glimpse of a hope if not, the poor will get restless and more problems will developed. -
wagered $140 yesterday and won nothing.
never mind.
there is always another draw.
huozhejiuyouxiwang.