Worried about promotion of gambling

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Apr 23, 2011
Worried about promotion of gambling
MR NARAYANA Narayana's letter on Wednesday ("Singapore Pools, Turf Club adding to gambling concerns") vividly captures the gambling scenario here. I agree with him that the spread of gambling activities should be a source of worry, even as these operators help to fill the Government's coffers, albeit at the expense of the vulnerable.

I don't doubt the sincerity of Singapore Pools and Turf Club in trying to urge people to "play responsibly", but surely they did not seriously think that merely putting up a sign was going to work? Nowadays, one can't help noticing that these signs have largely been overwhelmed by much bigger ones reminding the public of impending super-draws and urging everybody to go for them.
If this is not encouraging people to gamble, what is?
Gambling in the heartland is getting out of hand, and we should be concerned. It's not uncommon to see queues at 4-D/Toto outlets that are longer than those at supermarket cashier counters. If indeed selling false hope to the desperate and gullible is what we must do, let's do it discreetly and without promoting the devil-may-care attitude to gambling that we see all around. Let's keep gambling activities out of the malls and supermarkets, and away from children.
The social cost of gambling is mounting and Singapore Pools and Turf Club can help minimise this by acting more responsibly.
Lee Seck Kay

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