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Workers’ Party calls on government to reject online betting applications

Workers' Party candidate for Aljunied Pritam Singh said, "The human touch is what all Singaporeans expect and deserve from the Workers' Party."

The Workers' Party is calling for the government to reject the applications of Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club (STC) to launch online betting services in Singapore.

Approval of these applications made by Singapore Pools and STC would put virtual betting outlets available in "almost every home and mobile device", said Assistant Secretary-General Pritam Singh in a statement released on the opposition party’s website on Tuesday (Sep 26).

This goes against government’s efforts to clamp down on remote gambling in 2014, when “concerns about addictive behavior and easy access to these games” were cited, said the statement.

The Workers' Party also questioned the government’s efforts to step up on remote gambling, saying “it remains unclear what are the Government’s specific plans and strategies to address the negative effects of online gambling, especially on young and vulnerable persons”.

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“During the second reading of the Remote Gambling Bill in 2014, the Government rejected the Workers’ Party call to send the Remote Gambling Bill – specifically the clauses that dealt with exemptions – to a Select Committee of Parliament for further scrutiny and oversight.

"Nonetheless, the Government committed itself to step up public education and awareness efforts with a specific focus on online gambling.”

“It makes little sense for the government to close one door on remote gambling in order to 'protect young persons and other vulnerable persons', while opening another door that exposes them to the ills of gambling in their homes,” the statement added.