Why not nip the 2 casinos?
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Council to nip problem gambling among youth in the bud
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Theresa Tan
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->IN AN effort to curb the rising number of Singaporeans who start gambling in their youth, the National Council on Problem Gambling is taking aim at students.
The council is partnering the Education Ministry and other agencies to train school counsellors to help students addicted to gambling, among other vices.
The agencies plan to involve 160 to 180 counsellors from secondary schools and Institute of Technical Education.
The council is ramping up efforts to curb problem gambling among youth, including those in the workforce, calling the approach 'pre-emptive'.
It comes after a recent government survey found Singaporeans are starting to test their luck at a younger age.
Approximately 75 per cent of those surveyed who have gambled in the past year, started when they were 24 years old or younger. This is up from just 63 per cent in a similar survey done in 2005.
The numbers are worrying because past studies have shown that youth who gamble are up to four times more likely to become addicted than adults.
In its annual report released yesterday, the council, which was created in 2005 and advises the Government on issues relating to problem gambling, also outlined initiatives that reach out to groups which are 'more susceptible' to gambling addiction, such as youth and the elderly.
For example, it is working with the YAH! College to train senior citizens to spread the message about the pitfalls of being hooked on the dice, said social worker Samuel Ng, who runs the community college. It promotes learning among the elderly.
The council is also targeting its message at hawkers and blue-collar workers. Past studies have shown potential pathological gamblers are most likely to be self-employed and earning between $1,000 and $3,000 monthly, among other things.
The council is also gearing up for the opening of the first casino, scheduled for the third quarter of next year. It expects to issue about 29,000 so-called exclusion orders next year which will bar undischarged bankrupts and those on public assistance from entering the casinos.
Singaporeans can also apply for their loved ones to be banned from the casinos if they have a gambling problem.
To this end, the council has shortlisted about 60 grassroots leaders and social service workers, some of whom will sit on a panel that will decide who to bar.
The council has also roped in gambling operators to train frontline staff to recognise the signs of problem gambling and how to refer potential addicts for help. It hopes to train 1,000 of them over the next two years.
Mr Ng applauded the council for 'pro-actively' trying to curb gambling addiction. He said: 'Gambling affects so many people in Singapore and at least now with the council's efforts, people are becoming more aware of problem gambling.'
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Council to nip problem gambling among youth in the bud
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Theresa Tan
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->IN AN effort to curb the rising number of Singaporeans who start gambling in their youth, the National Council on Problem Gambling is taking aim at students.
The council is partnering the Education Ministry and other agencies to train school counsellors to help students addicted to gambling, among other vices.
The agencies plan to involve 160 to 180 counsellors from secondary schools and Institute of Technical Education.
The council is ramping up efforts to curb problem gambling among youth, including those in the workforce, calling the approach 'pre-emptive'.
It comes after a recent government survey found Singaporeans are starting to test their luck at a younger age.
Approximately 75 per cent of those surveyed who have gambled in the past year, started when they were 24 years old or younger. This is up from just 63 per cent in a similar survey done in 2005.
The numbers are worrying because past studies have shown that youth who gamble are up to four times more likely to become addicted than adults.
In its annual report released yesterday, the council, which was created in 2005 and advises the Government on issues relating to problem gambling, also outlined initiatives that reach out to groups which are 'more susceptible' to gambling addiction, such as youth and the elderly.
For example, it is working with the YAH! College to train senior citizens to spread the message about the pitfalls of being hooked on the dice, said social worker Samuel Ng, who runs the community college. It promotes learning among the elderly.
The council is also targeting its message at hawkers and blue-collar workers. Past studies have shown potential pathological gamblers are most likely to be self-employed and earning between $1,000 and $3,000 monthly, among other things.
The council is also gearing up for the opening of the first casino, scheduled for the third quarter of next year. It expects to issue about 29,000 so-called exclusion orders next year which will bar undischarged bankrupts and those on public assistance from entering the casinos.
Singaporeans can also apply for their loved ones to be banned from the casinos if they have a gambling problem.
To this end, the council has shortlisted about 60 grassroots leaders and social service workers, some of whom will sit on a panel that will decide who to bar.
The council has also roped in gambling operators to train frontline staff to recognise the signs of problem gambling and how to refer potential addicts for help. It hopes to train 1,000 of them over the next two years.
Mr Ng applauded the council for 'pro-actively' trying to curb gambling addiction. He said: 'Gambling affects so many people in Singapore and at least now with the council's efforts, people are becoming more aware of problem gambling.'
