Worried about promotion of gambling
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Apr 23, 2011 - ST Forum
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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no doubt we could not control all vices...it derives from individual's compulsive habits..
the system could only help this much .... more regulations to tighten vices may afterall increase the no. of oppositions...thats another ironic perspective
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Having the turf clubs is bad, the two casinos make it worse.
Turf club only operates certain times and certain days; casinos 24/7 all throughout the year. We can do without the casinos.
Arguing about job creation by casinos is no different a drug pusher so that we can benefits from such activities. Both ruins the structure of the society.
I'm not giving any business to any establishments in the IRs and never will. Even friends and associates from abroad I will decline to take them there, they can go themselves. Sound rude but awakening the detest I have for them.
It start with one, can the rest of Singaporeans follow. Without support, the facade of the casinos will be torn and reveal its ugly intents.
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All those wayang notice and ads to urge you to play responsibily. It is as if we are saying that all those gruesome pictures on the cigarette boxes discourages smoking. To bring in horse racing via big screen to town is to encourage gambling.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Having the turf clubs is bad, the two casinos make it worse.
Turf club only operates certain times and certain days; casinos 24/7 all throughout the year. We can do without the casinos.
Arguing about job creation by casinos is no different a drug pusher so that we can benefits from such activities. Both ruins the structure of the society.
I'm not giving any business to any establishments in the IRs and never will. Even friends and associates from abroad I will decline to take them there, they can go themselves. Sound rude but awakening the detest I have for them.
It start with one, can the rest of Singaporeans follow. Without support, the facade of the casinos will be torn and reveal its ugly intents.
I admire your principles.
I also do not understand why Toto is still allowed. Since Casinos are already built, in my opinion the Toto one should be closed.
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PAP should be attacked over casino and rise of gambling problems by opposition during elections.
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There is no bad money, but bad people misusing money.
There is no bad fire, but bad people misusing fire to cause harm.Similarly, there is no bad casino/operator, but bad people with greedy hearts.
The main problem here is with PEOPLE.
I do play toto but I exercise self-control like a few dollars ($3) per draw. Occasionally, I do win something.
It's mainly about self-discipline. For people who have problems with gambling are people with poor self-discipline.
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I have never step into MBS and RWS to gamble, may it long continue
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Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
I admire your principles.
I also do not understand why Toto is still allowed. Since Casinos are already built, in my opinion the Toto one should be closed.
No......at least wait until i tio a big one first......This is my only common vision with Zorro Lim...."he feel rich looking at his monthly cpf statement while i feel rich looking at my toto betting slip"
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Originally posted by SevenEleven:
No......at least wait until i tio a big one first......This is my only common vision with Zorro Lim...."he feel rich looking at his monthly cpf statement while i feel rich looking at my toto betting slip"Aiyah stop gambling. A $ save is a $ earned.
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you can never win a casino, pls bear this in mind. casino will never scared you winning, only scared you never go in and play nia.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
you can never win a casino, pls bear this in mind. casino will never scared you winning, only scared you never go in and play nia.
There are people with "pian cai" (indirect wealth). They will win at their favourable luck periods.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
you can never win a casino, pls bear this in mind. casino will never scared you winning, only scared you never go in and play nia.
agree.
stop going to the casinos or the establishments that support them.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Aiyah stop gambling. A $ save is a $ earned.
i'm not a gambler but try luck... -
Originally posted by SevenEleven:
i'm not a gambler but try luck...sound very familiar...
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Originally posted by cyberr1981:
There are people with "pian cai" (indirect wealth). They will win at their favourable luck periods.
how long can u win against casinos in the long term? can u even get rich ie become a multi millionaire thru gambling?
you may win say 100k, but then u keep going back, will you keep on winning 100k each time you gamble there?
I have friend who won 10k, but ended up losing more than 80k in the end. who is the big winner?
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
how long can u win against casinos in the long term? can u even get rich ie become a multi millionaire thru gambling?
you may win say 100k, but then u keep going back, will you keep on winning 100k each time you gamble there?
I have friend who won 10k, but ended up losing more than 80k in the end. who is the big winner?
First of all, I don't gamble in casinos. The cost is too high.
Second, I only play toto and sweep. Not even 4D where prize is dependant on bet cost. With $3 toto, I can have chance to win group 1-4. Even if I lose, it's only $3 per draw. I don't bet more to win more and I don't bet more during special draws.
Low crime doesn't mean no crime.
Low chances of winning doesn't mean will not win. -
I dun even bother playing 4D or TOTO because I know the odds of me winning the big prize, so why bother waste your money every week on these.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
I dun even bother playing 4D or TOTO because I know the odds of me winning the big prize, so why bother waste your money every week on these.
Yes, the odds of winning toto group 1 is very very low.... 1 in 8,000,000.
But winning groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is also nice. Odds of winning any prize is 1 in 300 (that is if you only buy 1 ordinary combination, but I buy 6 ordinary combinations so the odds of winning any prize should be higher than that).
Source:
http://www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/howtoplay/howtoplay_toto_odds.html -
I am more worried that gambling may cause me to lose my focus in life. I may become addicted to gambling and then lose focus of my job and get fired for it. worse I may lose my hard earned money saved through many years of savings, is it worth to lose it half or all on a game of blackjack and worse, incurred debts that may need years to clear and for what?
what if I incur lots of gambling debts and unable to think properly and in a desperate attempt, I go borrow from loan shark and the problem escalate for me and my family. If I am married with kids, my wife may leave and divorce me. not only do I lose my hard earned money, but incurred debts and lose my family. is it worth it, think about it.
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ok granted that some gamble because they are seeking thrill and not seeking riches through gambling. but then the more thrill you seek, the more you are hooked and the more you are unable to think properly. its a vicious cycle, ever heard of gamble who never slept for days gambled in the casino.
if you are seeking thrill, seek other hobbies instead, such as kayaking or sky diving instead of gambling. you will start off gambling very small, but gradually you will start gambling big as you are seeking more thrill.
so as a matter of principle, I do not even gamble 4D, Toto or even world cup or EPL betting anymore. one gamble in 4D may lead to EPL betting and then to casino eventually.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
I am more worried that gambling may cause me to lose my focus in life. I may become addicted to gambling and then lose focus of my job and get fired for it. worse I may lose my hard earned money saved through many years of savings, is it worth to lose it half or all on a game of blackjack and worse, incurred debts that may need years to clear and for what?
what if I incur lots of gambling debts and unable to think properly and in a desperate attempt, I go borrow from loan shark and the problem escalate for me and my family. If I am married with kids, my wife may leave and divorce me. not only do I lose my hard earned money, but incurred debts and lose my family. is it worth it, think about it.
that is your own problem with your own discipline.
Only you can help yourself.
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Originally posted by cyberr1981:
that is your own problem with your own discipline.
Only you can help yourself.
gambling is always a problem.
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Do you know that the money from tote board is distributed to help the societies in singapore?
If you recall the time in your poly/uni, your majority of the projects are partly funded by toteboard.
Toteboard gets money from gambler. and return back to the society.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
gambling is always a problem.
yes gambling is always a vice, has been and will be.gambling has ruined many lives and family. there was this man who murdered his family because of gambling debts, because he didnt want his children to be treated as second class, but who is to blame, no one but that irresponsible coward man himself.