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Opening up online betting may spawn new addicts, counsellors warn

SINGAPORE — While they acknowledge that a determined punter would always find ways to get around gambling curbs, counsellors warned that legal online betting channels carry the danger of turning new groups of people into addicts.

SINGAPORE — While they acknowledge that a determined punter would always find ways to get around gambling curbs, counsellors warned that legal online betting channels carry the danger of turning new groups of people into addicts.

Counsellors told TODAY that they welcome the safeguards that gambling operators have to put in place, but they questioned if the age limit is appropriate, given that there are still groups of 21-year-olds who are in school and lack the financial capacity to gamble.

After the Government exempted Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club from the Remote Gambling Act, which prohibits remote gambling via websites, phones or smart devices, the two lottery operators still have to ensure that they allow only those above the age of 21 to open accounts with them, and set daily limits on how much punters are to spend on online gambling, for example.

Mr Dick Lum, executive director of One Hope Centre, which counsels gambling addicts, said that he was concerned for those who think that “it is safe” to gamble online simply because there are “safeguards”, and that this form of gambling may not be as addictive as gambling at casinos or through other means. “It would be a grave mistake if they should ever think that way,” Mr Lum said.

Ms Deborah Queck, a counsellor at the Gamblers Recovery Centre of non-profit organisation Eternal Grace Community Services, said that making online betting legal just means that there is another channel for people to become addicted, even if illegal online betting websites already exist.

She said the small bets on the 4D lottery are really big trouble, having seen clients borrow money from moneylenders and loansharks to play, and end up in debt. “Don’t think 4D is just a simple game. They keep buying and (refuse to give up on a certain) number.”

Others, such as consultant psychiatrist Thomas Lee from The Resilienz Clinic, cautioned that social safeguards are not foolproof against problem gamblers because they can bypass these to gamble in other ways. For example, someone who is prohibited from entering casinos can head overseas to gamble, Dr Lee said, adding that having more products online just gives gamblers more options to become addicted.

Looking at the preventive measures, one observer singled out the 24-hour “cooling down” period before punters may increase their account’s spending limits as a more helpful move.

Mr Chong Ee Jay, manager at Touch Cyber Wellness, a non-profit agency that promotes cyber health among families and children, said: “In our works with addiction cases in general, a lot of the people are driven by that spur-of-the-moment kind of thing where, when you lose, you immediately want to throw in more money ... (so) when you give them a moment to pause and think, hopefully ... they start rationalising.”

The announcement of the exemption on Thursday (Sept 29) was greeted with outrage by some in the online community. Blogger and former journalist Ian Tan was “disgusted” to learn that the Government allowed the two operators to have online betting services “just like that” without any parliamentary debate, call for public feedback or consultation, or even a word from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

In his post, he also lashed out at the Government for allowing “policies that encourage more families to destroy themselves, and then spend tax dollars to run fancy anti-gambling ads that do little to help hooked gamblers or their children”.

On GoPetition’s website, a petition titled Stop the Legalisation of Online Gambling in Singapore, intended for the Ministry of Social and Family Development, had been signed by more than 12,200 people as of on Thursday night.

For one punter at least, the legalised platform is already on his radar. Mr H T Phang, a 45-year-old businessman, said that he would not mind signing up with Singapore Pools for its online betting service. He earns a monthly salary of more than S$10,000, and spends S$1,500 to S$2,000 on online gambling, usually on football matches at least three to four times a week.

He bets “just for the thrill” and does not need to win. “I believe that I have self-control on how much I bet, because I don’t gamble more than 20 per cent of my monthly income.”

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