Get rich through 4D? Why not - it's a 'leisure activity' - Singapore's Online Community

**Voodoo Vince** · 05-11-2007, 11:12 PM

Get rich through 4D? Why not - it's a 'leisure activity'

By Rosalie Hooi

The view on gambling is also changing, with more viewing it as a leisure activity. About 60 per cent of respondents consider 'soft' gambling like Sweep, 4D and Toto to be leisure activities than gambling. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA

ALTHOUGH most see gambling as harmful, Singaporeans are also more tolerant of certain forms of it - with a greater number holding the view that with the right skills it is possible to get rich through gambling.

These findings from face-to-face interviews conducted with 2013 Singapore residents aged 15 to 75 years of age were published by the National Council on Problem Gambling on Monday.

The Council found that the number who considered there to be nothing wrong with gambling increased from 48 per cent last year to 57 per cent this year, up a significant 9 percentage points.

About half the respondents also consider gambling as a good way to bond socially with friends, up from 36 per cent last year, a jump of 16 percentage points. Fifty-eight per cent also find it a fun and entertaining form of recreation, an increase of 6 percentage points.

Fewer linked gambling to an unsatisfactory family life. The proportion who felt that gambling was very likely to lead to an unhappy family life dropped 16 percentage points from 81 per cent. Significantly fewer felt that frequent gambling would lead to the gambler becoming poorer in the end, with a 10 percentage points decline from 76 per cent last year to 66 per cent this year.

The view on gambling is also changing, with more viewing it as a leisure activity. About 60 per cent of respondents consider 'soft' gambling like Sweep, 4D and Toto to be leisure activities than gambling.

While in 2006 only 14 per cent of respondents felt it was possible to win lots of money by having the right gambling skills, the percentage of respondents who feel this way increased to about 32 per cent this year.

The penchant for risk-taking in gambling has also increased, with 44 per cent of respondents saying that one must not be afraid to take risks when gambling, up from 32 per cent last year.

More would also participate in a particular gambling activity following a friend's windfall, with 28 per cent indicating they would do so compared to 20 per cent last year.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_173811.html

**djchris** · 05-11-2007, 11:26 PM

Those who think 4D can get them rich are fools sia~

**mrleech** · 05-11-2007, 11:27 PM

I was told, it is easier to get rich via TOTO.
Chances are higher to win. I too lazy to count if that is correct.

**anberlin** · 05-11-2007, 11:34 PM

4D??!! doped devil dropped dead......though i dont buy...i think spending just $10 a week is enough..though it may escalate.....4D kills....cheers

**Voodoo Vince** · 05-11-2007, 11:35 PM

Who thinks gambling is part of our life?

**MelvinLee** · 05-11-2007, 11:37 PM

Sometime 4D can really get them rich, they can go ask some medium to give 4D number, or just feel of the numbers in our hearts, the number will sure come out, that is why somebody win Million over Dollars in buying ToTo, 4D

**Voodoo Vince** · 05-11-2007, 11:44 PM

Most S'poreans see gambling as harmful: Survey

Gamblers will turn to family for help, and family will seek exclusion orders to ban a habitual gambler from visiting casino.
By Irene Ngoo

The NCPG report said that the large majority of Singaporeans felt that more should be done to address problem gambling in Singapore, and that gambling will increase the social problems in Singapore if nothing is done about it now. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

MOST Singaporeans will turn to their families for help on gambling-related problems and almost half will apply for casino exclusion orders to ban the person from visiting the casino.

These are among the key findings in a follow-up survey carried out by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), which showed that the majority of Singaporeans still view gambling as potentially harmful and are aware of the signs of problem gambling and where to seek help.

But the survey, through face-to-face interviews with 2,013 Singapore residents aged 15 to 75, at their homes between April and May, also raised some potential concerns.

For example, more Singaporeans view the softer forms of gambling - Singapore Sweep, 4D, Toto, social gambling) as leisure activities rather than gambling activities.

'They viewed gambling as a good way of social bonding among friends, felt that there was nothing wrong with gambling and thought that gambling was a fun and entertaining form of recreation,' said the report, which was released on Monday.

'There were also increases in the proportion of Singaporeans who felt that it was possible to win lots of money if one had the right gambling skills, that one must not be afraid to take risks when gambling and that it made sense to continue gambling to win back the losses after losing money in gambling.'

More worryingly, the report noted that more Singaporeans 'felt that it was possible to win lots of money if one had the right gambling skills, that one must not be afraid to take risks when gambling and that it made sense to continue gambling to win back the losses after losing money in gambling.'

At the same time, fewer Singaporeans 'agreed that gambling addiction could be very addictive and that gambling addiction could be effectively treated.'

'The proportion of Singaporeans who thought that gambling had a negative impact on family had also decreased,' added the report.

The 2007 survey, which is a follow-up to the baseline study carried out by the council in 2006 as part of its public education efforts, included a new question on family exclusion orders for the casinos.

Almost half of the respondents (47 per cent) said they would apply for casino exclusion orders to ban family members with gambling problems.

This is in sharp contrast to the response in the public consultation on this issue earlier this year which revealed that families would consider such a step 'very carefully and as a last resort,' said the NCPG.

The latest survey continued to reflect that a majority (95 per cent) felt that gambling was potentially harmful, and they did not view gambling as an appropriate means of financial betterment.

About the same number of respondents also felt that gambling once in a while and not excessively was acceptable - it was 74 per cent in 2006, and 70 per cent in 2007.

Summing up the 2007 survey, the report said it indicated that awareness of the gambling problem and the helplines available has significantly increased from the baseline study carried out in 2006 as part of the NCPG's public education efforts.

'Both surveys found that the large majority of Singaporeans felt that more should be done to address problem gambling in Singapore in terms of helping those with gambling problems and educating the public on problem gambling, and that gambling will increase the social problems in Singapore if we do nothing now,' concluded the report.

The survey showed that print media, TV and radio continued to be the main medium of raising awareness of gambling issues. The Council will step up its public education and awareness efforts.

Among other things, it will focus on problem gamblers and their families as the main target groups and will with the Ministry of Communication, Youth and Sports on regulations for administration of the casino exclusion measures and the proceedings for family exclusion cases.

Mrs Mildred Tan, who chairs the council's public communications sub-committee: 'NCPG believes it is important to track its efforts in public education and awareness.'

'This year's survey has provided us with useful and insightful information on the need to increase public awareness and to continue to monitor changes in perceptions towards gambling.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_173805.html

**Miss QQ** · 06-11-2007, 08:50 AM

Gambling is bad... Most families suffer as a result of habitual gambling...