Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Help for 114 problem gamblers since January
http://enewslink.asia1.com.sg/brsweb/read_9.brsw?this=result&QDT=1&QFLST=HD%3AHG%3APD&DB=BT%3AST%4006-07&QSTR=problem+gambling+XOR+%28%28problem+gambling%29%29.HD.+XOR+%28%28problem+gambling%29%29.HG.&DTSTR=%28%28PD+%3E=+20060928%29+and+%28PD+%3C=+20070228%29%29&PSZ=10&MAXL=200&SUMY=1&HLT=0&LSTN=0&ID=000018124@BT06
I feel this problem will be here, with or without casinos.
This article talks about how 114 people have stepped forward to receive treatment for addiction to gambling, and also how the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) has stepped up efforts to combat such cases, with the advent of the Integrated Resorts (IR). The NCPG is among one of the government efforts to prevent addiction to gambling among Singaporeans. Others include barring people who are not financially secure, as well as imposing a levy fee.
Many people enjoy gambling, because there is the thrill of whether one wins or loses, and of actually having something at stake. People often cannot predict whether they will win or lose, thus they can only pray and hope for a good hand, a lucky spin, etc. The thrill is what gets the majority of people hooked, and also the self-conceived notion that “I can’t be so unlucky!” Thus people continue gambling even if they are on a losing spree, losing their money and still having false hope that they can win it back This leads to them illegally borrowing money from loan sharks, if only to feed their addiction and win back whatever they have lost.
The situation in Singapore currently, is that there are forms of legal gambling in which thousands of people take part in every day-4-D and Toto. These are forms of gambling because winning them is based on chance alone, and there is a stake involved. The odds of winning in such legalised betting are very low, as are the stakes. However, once one wins, there is a large amount of winnings.
There is also illegal gambling, which takes place mainly in mini-casinos and gambling dens. The odds of winning here is like standard casinos, but there is a risk level. Thus people prefer to stick to the legalised form of gambling.
People getting addicted to either are for the aforementioned reasons. A recent Jack Neo film, “The Best Bet”, showcased the pitfalls of problem gambling, including addiction to just 4-D alone. In the article, it is also mentioned that 59 percent of respondents took part in some form of gambling, and about two percent were pathological gamblers.
The new casino will not drastically worsen the situation. How many of us can actually afford a $100++ ticket for just one day into a casino? This probably will make it a once-in-a-while splurge, such as buying a ticket to a nearby casino ie. Genting. With or without the casino, people will have ways to gamble, be it illegal or legal. And the drastic measures taken by the government will not open the bottleneck for gambling to the mainstream population; gambling in the casino will most likely be an exclusive affair.
http://enewslink.asia1.com.sg/brsweb/read_9.brsw?this=result&QDT=1&QFLST=HD%3AHG%3APD&DB=BT%3AST%4006-07&QSTR=problem+gambling+XOR+%28%28problem+gambling%29%29.HD.+XOR+%28%28problem+gambling%29%29.HG.&DTSTR=%28%28PD+%3E=+20060928%29+and+%28PD+%3C=+20070228%29%29&PSZ=10&MAXL=200&SUMY=1&HLT=0&LSTN=0&ID=000018124@BT06
I feel this problem will be here, with or without casinos.
This article talks about how 114 people have stepped forward to receive treatment for addiction to gambling, and also how the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) has stepped up efforts to combat such cases, with the advent of the Integrated Resorts (IR). The NCPG is among one of the government efforts to prevent addiction to gambling among Singaporeans. Others include barring people who are not financially secure, as well as imposing a levy fee.
Many people enjoy gambling, because there is the thrill of whether one wins or loses, and of actually having something at stake. People often cannot predict whether they will win or lose, thus they can only pray and hope for a good hand, a lucky spin, etc. The thrill is what gets the majority of people hooked, and also the self-conceived notion that “I can’t be so unlucky!” Thus people continue gambling even if they are on a losing spree, losing their money and still having false hope that they can win it back This leads to them illegally borrowing money from loan sharks, if only to feed their addiction and win back whatever they have lost.
The situation in Singapore currently, is that there are forms of legal gambling in which thousands of people take part in every day-4-D and Toto. These are forms of gambling because winning them is based on chance alone, and there is a stake involved. The odds of winning in such legalised betting are very low, as are the stakes. However, once one wins, there is a large amount of winnings.
There is also illegal gambling, which takes place mainly in mini-casinos and gambling dens. The odds of winning here is like standard casinos, but there is a risk level. Thus people prefer to stick to the legalised form of gambling.
People getting addicted to either are for the aforementioned reasons. A recent Jack Neo film, “The Best Bet”, showcased the pitfalls of problem gambling, including addiction to just 4-D alone. In the article, it is also mentioned that 59 percent of respondents took part in some form of gambling, and about two percent were pathological gamblers.
The new casino will not drastically worsen the situation. How many of us can actually afford a $100++ ticket for just one day into a casino? This probably will make it a once-in-a-while splurge, such as buying a ticket to a nearby casino ie. Genting. With or without the casino, people will have ways to gamble, be it illegal or legal. And the drastic measures taken by the government will not open the bottleneck for gambling to the mainstream population; gambling in the casino will most likely be an exclusive affair.
# posted by elias @ 6:45 AM 
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perhaps could talk about why the newspaper chooses to highlight these 114 problem gamblers--to reassure singapore that there is help for those who might get addicted further when the casino opens? or like what you're reflecting here, to get people to realise that whether a casino opens here or not there is already this problem of addiction to gambling?
perhaps rather than just examining the reasons why people like to gamble, perhaps could suggest some solutions to nip this in the bud?
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perhaps rather than just examining the reasons why people like to gamble, perhaps could suggest some solutions to nip this in the bud?
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