I FEEL sad reading about people being hounded by moneylenders due to gambling debts.
Families break up and children suffer as a result, and this could have a potential impact on their future.
Just like smoking, gambling is addictive, and requires great determination, both soft and hard approaches from internal and external sources, in order to quit.
Despite the authorities' efforts to curb gambling, there are still 4-D and Toto outlets sprouting up in the neighbourhoods.
The $100 entry levy to our two casinos has limited deterrent effect, as some continue to pay the fee in order to gamble. There is also the option of floating casinos ("Gambling on the high seas"; Sunday).
There are ways to discourage gambling, such as reducing the number of 4-D or Toto outlets in the heartland, raising the casino entrance levy above $100, and imposing forced saving on gamblers so that they can repay their debts.
Seniors with spare time and cash could consider participating in volunteer work or recreational activities at grassroots organisations. These are more meaningful activities than gambling.
The authorities might also want to consider limiting access to floating casinos.
Let us all work hard together to fight gambling.
Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
Families break up and children suffer as a result, and this could have a potential impact on their future.
Just like smoking, gambling is addictive, and requires great determination, both soft and hard approaches from internal and external sources, in order to quit.
Despite the authorities' efforts to curb gambling, there are still 4-D and Toto outlets sprouting up in the neighbourhoods.
The $100 entry levy to our two casinos has limited deterrent effect, as some continue to pay the fee in order to gamble. There is also the option of floating casinos ("Gambling on the high seas"; Sunday).
There are ways to discourage gambling, such as reducing the number of 4-D or Toto outlets in the heartland, raising the casino entrance levy above $100, and imposing forced saving on gamblers so that they can repay their debts.
Seniors with spare time and cash could consider participating in volunteer work or recreational activities at grassroots organisations. These are more meaningful activities than gambling.
The authorities might also want to consider limiting access to floating casinos.
Let us all work hard together to fight gambling.
Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
