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Gambling is bad, legal or illegal
I REFER to Mr Asad Latif's report, ""Should there be more gambling outlets?'' (ST, May 31).
In the report, Associate Professor Euston Quah, in three lengthy columns, discussed the fine details of legal and illegal gambling, almost down to a science.
And coffeeshop owner Ng Gin Hwa, in a report less than 8 cm in length, described the true nature of gambling and its effects.
The Government should just ask a simple question: Is gambling good or bad?
If it is bad, then should it not try to educate, dissuade, and finally force citizens to give up gambling?
I find it incredible that Ms Juliana Lim, Director of Community Affairs, Singapore Pools, should try to justify gambling by citing what she calls ""lifestyle factors''.
If her argument holds, then legalise pornography, drugs and a whole slew of destructive habits.
If the Government and Singapore Pools consider people who gamble illegally as ""potential'' customers, and that a ""service'' should be provided to wean them off illegal gambling, then they should not be termed as ""illegal'' gamblers.
Anyone who indulges in illegal activities should be jailed, not be given better ""service''.
I applaud Mr Jason Goh for challenging Singapore Pools to admit that it is motivated by profits in its move to open more outlets, because there seems to be no other logical reason.
Making illegal gambling legal does not take away the ill-effects of gambling in any way.
I REFER to Mr Asad Latif's report, ""Should there be more gambling outlets?'' (ST, May 31).
In the report, Associate Professor Euston Quah, in three lengthy columns, discussed the fine details of legal and illegal gambling, almost down to a science.
And coffeeshop owner Ng Gin Hwa, in a report less than 8 cm in length, described the true nature of gambling and its effects.
The Government should just ask a simple question: Is gambling good or bad?
If it is bad, then should it not try to educate, dissuade, and finally force citizens to give up gambling?
I find it incredible that Ms Juliana Lim, Director of Community Affairs, Singapore Pools, should try to justify gambling by citing what she calls ""lifestyle factors''.
If her argument holds, then legalise pornography, drugs and a whole slew of destructive habits.
If the Government and Singapore Pools consider people who gamble illegally as ""potential'' customers, and that a ""service'' should be provided to wean them off illegal gambling, then they should not be termed as ""illegal'' gamblers.
Anyone who indulges in illegal activities should be jailed, not be given better ""service''.
I applaud Mr Jason Goh for challenging Singapore Pools to admit that it is motivated by profits in its move to open more outlets, because there seems to be no other logical reason.
Making illegal gambling legal does not take away the ill-effects of gambling in any way.