online betting websites to be blocked

[hkh]

Originally Posted by streetsmart73

Simi feedback.

Wayanging 101

Yup.........never bite the hands that feed you........

[leeqf]

Originally Posted by hkh

Yup.........never bite the hands that feed you........

Cannot bite so must lick on every finger....just like KFC....finger licking good...

[globalcookie]

The Government’s position on online gambling is “not to encourage it”, but to “recognise a reality” that there are Singaporeans who engage in it and hence provide a "safer space" to manage it, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin in Parliament on Monday (Oct 10).

Several members of Parliament had raised questions after the Government announced late last month that Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club would be exempt from the Remote Gambling Act and can offer online gambling services. The two operators will have to implement a host of social safeguards in their online gambling and betting systems, authorities had said.

Mr Tan explained that the Government’s objective in doing so is to see how best they can look after the well-being of Singaporeans. “I know from a specific individual perspective we would like to take a stronger position to say that we ban it, and send a very clear signal that way,” he said. “But the issue is how to deal with the very real and practical problem which is that people are gambling online.”

“The reality is that there are Singaporeans who are online gambling and they are gambling in a space where there are no social safeguards and no monitoring,” he said, reiterating a concern he had highlighted in an interview with Channel NewsAsia.

EXPOSED TO "VERY REAL DANGERS"

With no safeguards or safety valves in illegal gambling, Singapore is being exposed to “very real dangers”, added the minister. “It’s not just a virtual gambling space, and it does extend to a very real world problem”, he said, adding that one of the biggest concerns the Government has is the criminal element of online gambling.

“You have punters, bookies, runners and agents collecting bet monies and extending credit lines, and a lot of them are unfortunately involved in syndicate crimes,” he added. “That is not trivial from that perspective as well.”

Mr Tan also said that the nature of the Internet is such that the space cannot be “completely sealed off”, citing Singapore’s high Internet penetration rate and the growing global market for online gambling.“We are concerned that the numbers may grow as the space continues to proliferate and the Internet continues to grow in terms of accessibility. So at least for those who are there, can we at least provide some form of a safer space for that?” he said.

“This fairly controlled tightly managed space with social safeguards will be one way to deal with the excesses of online gambling,” he said. “But if it turns out that there continue to be issues, we will take a closer look at how best to deal with it.”

NO MIXED SIGNALS FROM GOVT: DESMOND LEE

In response to a question from MP Denise Phua, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee stated there have been "no mixed signals in that in 2014, you say one thing, in 2016 you do another" he said, noting that the Government was upfront two years ago in introducing a framework to control remote gambling, with a "safety valve".

He added that Singapore’s approach to gambling is “somewhat similar” to the overall approach in other countries in managing vices like drinking and smoking. “Although we discourage drinking and smoking, we do not have a complete ban. Instead, we manage the potential harms through regulation and public education.

“Some have compared gambling to drug abuse, and say if we allow a safety valve for gambling, then why not have a safety valve for drug taking? I believe they are asking a rhetorical question and conflating the way in which you tackle crime and the way in which many societies try to manage vices that have been in society for ages,” he said.

“The magnitude of harm resulting from drug abuse is vastly different from and much more severe. Our regimes towards drug abuse and vices, such as gambling, are therefore different in complexion."

Taking a “realistic, clear-minded approach”, a complete ban on online gambling will “drive demand underground” and create “larger incentives for criminal syndicates to target Singapore", he said. “Determined gamblers can circumvent website blocking measures by using VPN or proxy websites."

Mr Lee highlighted that since February 2015, more than 120 people have been arrested by the police for remote gambling activities. He also cited the recent Euro 2016 football championship, where police arrested 39 suspects in Singapore, who dealt with S$2.5 million in bets. And while there are no official figures on the extent of such gambling he said, one estimate put Singapore's remote gambling market value at around S$461 million last year, when the ban was in place.

- CNA/lc

I'm cockvinced we have the best of the best people as ministers. Vote for PAP!!!!!!!!

[globalcookie]

Online gambling 'an extremely worrying trend': Office of the Mufti
Posted 14 Oct 2016 13:30 Updated 14 Oct 2016 14:19

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SINGAPORE: Muslims in Singapore were reminded on Friday (Oct 14) that online gambling is an "extremely worrying trend" and that it has the potential to not only affect the individual involved, but also the entire family and community.

In its Friday sermon, the Office of the Mufti said that when a person becomes addicted to online gambling, they are "more prone to lose control of themselves and spiral into lawlessness", which is why Islam firmly prohibits gambling.

It also noted that gambling will not only cause the person to be heavily in debt, but also break familial ties. "Many gamblers have ended up being declared as bankrupts, adversely affecting the future of their children, and crushing the hopes and dreams that they used to share as a family," it said.

As for those who argue that gambling is not a problem as long as it is not a habit or done through social media, the Office of the Mufti said its research showed that those who became addicted to gambling began as "social gamblers".

As such, it called on followers to make sure they and their families are recorded on the list of those not permitted to take part in any licensed gambling activities. They should also monitor the websites that are visited by family members to ensure their actions are aligned to the Islamic teachings and values, the Office of the Mufti said.

The exhortation comes after the Catholic Church urged the Government to continually review measures to minimise the ill effects of online gambling. The National Council of Churches also said it was "deeply concerned" about the legalisation of online gambling and appealed to authorities to review the plans.

Singapore authorities had given the greenlight for Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club to offer such services as soon as next month.

- CNA/kk

Only PAP, the best gov in e world, SG Pools and Turf Club supports this online gambling. Leaves us wondering (obviously) why!!!

[globalcookie]

Online gambling decision a 'judgment call' by Govt: National Council of Churches
Posted 20 Oct 2016 08:56 Updated 20 Oct 2016 09:00

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SINGAPORE: The decision to allow authorised operators to offer online gambling is a “judgement call” by the Government, the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has said in a new letter to its members.

The letter, sent on Wednesday (Oct 19), said NCCS representatives had a “candid and important face-to-face discussion” with the Government after the council issued a statement calling for a review of the exemptions on online betting services given to Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.

“Given the data on the current remote gambling landscape, the government deems this to be the best approach to mitigate driving remote gambling activities underground and exacerbating law and order concerns,” >NCCS said in the letter on Wednesday.

“The Government acknowledges the council’s deep concern about the negative social consequences of legalising two remote gambling platforms, and will regularly monitor the overall impact,” it added.

In its earlier statement, NCCS had said it was concerned the Government was sending “confusing and conflicting signals” with the partial lifting of the ban.

But the Government explained during the meeting that this was not the case, NCCS said. This is because when the Remote Gambling Act was passed in 2014, it already had a provision to exempt operators, as the Government did not think a complete ban would work.

The Act, including the provision, was also discussed with social service leaders and religious representatives before it was tabled and passed by Parliament.

NCCS TO ROLL OUT MEASURES AGAINST PROBLEM GAMBLING

During the meeting with NCCS, the Government maintained that allowing exempt operators under stringent controls is the best approach to limit and contain adverse social consequences.

“This conclusion is based on the studies on the social impact of gambling that the Government has documented, and its assessment of possible scenarios with and without the ‘valve’ of controlled exempt operator,” NCCS said.

However, the council also expressed reservations about this, saying that research on this area is still new, and the family and social fabric of Singapore is “currently not strong enough” to provide safeguards against problem gambling.

The Government is willing to “proactively strengthen” the family and social environment to prevent and mitigate this, NCCS said, adding that the authorities have proposed to meet NCCS leaders in three to six months’ time to discuss this.

The council also intends to introduce its own measures to address problem gambling. This includes forming a task force to explore ways to mitigate the harmful effects of gambling, especially the temptation of online gambling; publishing a tract on gambling that can be “placed in the hands of every church member”; and monitor the online gambling situation closely with the help of member churches and provide feedback to the Government.

“The NCCS appreciates and upholds the space given to the council and other responsible bodies to voice their views and concerns without being on a collision course with the governing authorities,” it added.

The council will endeavour to "play its part as a responsible intermediate organisation to seek the welfare of our city-state and to work together with the Government and other religious and grassroots organisations to promote the common good".

- CNA/c

If you can't beat em, join em!

[hkh]

Think they should also legalise Brothels then driving these girls underground..............

[globalcookie]

Brothels in GL are legal isn't it? It's the road standers, online services, etc, that's illegal.

Maybe they can also make prostitution legal. After all, like the Government maintained that "allowing exempt operators under stringent controls is the best approach to limit and contain adverse social consequences".

Your Tan Chuan Jin said “recognise a reality that there are Singaporeans who engage in it and hence provide a safer space to manage it"

Let's ask gov to legalised online prostitution. Prostitution is "a reality". Currently, 'illegal' online prostitution charges quite high. Once gov legalised it, supply increase, price reduce.. helps reduce sex crimes by "providing a safer space to manage it".

Same goes for drugs.

[streetsmart73]

Originally Posted by hkh

Think they should also legalise Brothels then driving these girls underground..............

want more babies, legalise small 2, small 3 lor

[kenghua]

Today, AFP news reported Keppel corp cut around 8000 jobs. Recently, HDB reported deficit of $1.64 billion. Last Dec, HDB reported a deficit of $2.02 billion.

China economy slowing down. Less high rollers gambling in our two casinos. Both casinos reporting revenue down.

I am not an economist. I don't work in financial sector. But I am guessing the state of our economy is probably worst than it looks. Online betting would generate some revenue to offset the HDB deficit and probably others yet to be reported....

[hkh]

HDB's deficit is paper loss only.......... our garment should not value public housing against commercial projects in the first place.........