Legalisation and Resolving of Online Gambling

Question: Discuss about the Legalisation and Resolving of Online Gambling. Answer: Introduction: Online gambling or internet gambling is the term used for gambling using the internet. In the late 1990s, online gambling gained popularity. The number of online gambling sites increased from 15 to 200 in just one year from 1996 to 1997 (Lin, 2016). With the increasing evidence of online gambling gaining popularity, attempts were made to curb these practices. Gambling has been regarded as a hobby of major consumers but with the increasing demand of the online gambling has created greater concern for the society and the government. Even if the government has imposed restrictions on the whole system, it could not stop the addicted gamblers to continue with their gambling activities (Straitstimes.com, 2016). Considering the increasing addictiveness and the decreasing morale of the society, strict decisions need to be imposed to restrict gambling. In Singapore, several approaches have been made towards legalizing gambling in the State, but there have been cautious approach towards the same. It has been evident that gambling clubs like Singapore Pools and Turf Club had been prevented from coming up with online gambling options, but these places have also seen green light in the recent time (Straitstimes.com, 2016). With the increased pervasiveness of internet usage along with phone gambling, it has become almost impossible for the government to think of any possible way to curb the activities. Nonetheless, the aspect of the conservative society cannot be neglected and this calls for strict control over the increasing gambling activities in the society (Abdullah, 2016). In this respect, certain drastic and tangled situations can be highlighted that has been resulted due to the increasing gambling activities in the countries like UK, USA and Singapore (Abdullah, 2016). After the dispute that USA had with the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, gambling became evident online. The online gambling issue was no longer remained an internal issues and the issues were not limited to the boundaries. However, the Americans anti-online gambling Bill. These activities were marked as offensive and wrong. Focus had to be made in considering the social good. On the other hand, the negative impact of curbing people from online gambling also became evident (Huiwen, 2016). It was assumed that if legal and severe actions were taken, this could have resulted in some drastic situation as well, that include underground mischief and the increased loan sharks. A large section of online bookies could possibly distort the market in various other ways (Straitstimes.com, 2016). Recently when two lottery operators were found to offer an online betting platform with the intension that this way the gambling can be safer and regulated, the step was highly criticized (Thelocalsociety.com, 2016). It was reminded that online betting platform has long been banned and the same cannot be started over again. In fact, this confusion dragged religious concerns as well. The intension of a peaceful and easier means of carrying out the addictive gambling was completely shattered (Straitstimes.com, 2016). The serious concern that online platform will give rise to global money laundering was brought to the point of concern, that would have no safety concern to make. If the online gambling platform around the world is considered, then places like Hong Kong or Norway has fallen into the bait of the online money scam. Keeping all these instances into consideration, online gambling has always been criticized and the move has been called a bad idea (Yeo, 2016). On one hand, the online money makers are taking every possible dig to make the online gambling legal. Various approaches were made to make things look favorable towards online gambling (Ying, 2016). Singapore Pool came with the idea that membership shall be offered that would eventually help the gamblers to carry on their addiction in a limited manner (Straitstimes.com, 2016). However, this claim was nullified at the very instance, considering that there is nothing called a concept of controlled gambling. An important point of consideration is that, for a profit making body like the Singapore Pool and the Singapore Turf Club, thinking of ways that would limit the gamblers to invest limited amount of money could not be entertained (Abdullah, 2016). Contradicting the thoughts of controlled gambling, another important point was added to the debate. The concern of rise of fake websites was brought into limelight. It is almost ineffective to control any internet activities even for the government (Huiwen, 2016). The chances of launch of fake websites to woo away the gamblers are very high. All these aspects will eventually increase the criminal activity step by step and there would be no scope of returning back from the situation, once if one is dragged into this grave of addiction (Ying, 2016). The limit of risks would see no limit and the consumers as well as others related to the one who gambles, have to suffer. The government would also not have any role to play in such situations (Straitstimes.com, 2016). Thus, the scope for online gambling to be legalized is very less. There are many other evidences that can clearly show the outcome if online gambling come into legal existence. The rate of criminal activities has also been found to increase. The gambling addiction not only disturbs the balance of the legal money of the world but it creates disruption in regular lives as well. Whole family has to suffer due to a single individual in the family. Online gambling will only exacerbate the situation rather than making it simple. The young people are more likely to get into the trap. Taking them out of this trap will not be an easy task. This will create problems for the families and the society where they live. The gambling will definitely not only take away the innocence of young people but it can drag them to the worst condition of debt. Bring the addicted back from this again is not a matter of ease. Thus, it can be easily said that the idea of online gambling to be legalized is a decision that shall never be brought to existence. References: Abdullah, Z., (2016) Regulated online betting safer for users: Minister Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/regulated-online-betting-safer-for-users-minister [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Huiwen, N., (2016) Online betting: Fear of rise in addiction Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/online-betting-fear-of-rise-in-addiction [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Lin, M., (2016) Online betting to be allowed in next two months via Singapore Pools, Singapore Turf Club Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/online-betting-to-be-allowed-in-next-two-months-via-singapore-pools-singapore-turf-club [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Straitstimes.com, (2016) Resolving online betting dilemma Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/resolving-online-betting-dilemma [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Straitstimes.com, (2016) Set conditions for online betting Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/set-conditions-for-online-betting [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Thelocalsociety.com (2016) Legal online betting with Singapore Pools starts as early as October 2016 Retrieved from: https://www.thelocalsociety.com/legal-online-betting-with-singapore-pools-starts-as-early-as-october-2016/ [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Yeo, A., (2016) Stop the Legalisation of Online Gambling in Singapore Retrieved from: https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-legalisation-of-online-gambling-in-singapore.html [Accessed on: 3-4-2017] Ying, F. J., (2016) What you need to know about the new online betting rules in Singapore Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/what-you-need-know-about-new-online-betting-rules-singapore [Accessed on: 3-4-2017]