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Addiction to gambling is the fatal flaw of Singapore.

• bic_cherry

  24 May 17, 14:03

  Proof: Most Singaporeans are actually very stupid people
  ~ It is very foolish to be greedy
   sauce: http://fablesofaesop.com/the-dog-and-the-shadow.html 
  Like the dog with meat in his own mouth seeing his own image in the water whilst crossing the bridge. Overwhelmed by the illusion that another dog has a BIGGER piece of meat, he opens his mouth to grab it, only to achieve nothing but the loss of his own original piece (which is quickly swept away by the moving stream).
  
  One flaw of being Singaporean is to be kiasi, kiasu and kiabo (scared to die, loose, get nothing (or scared of wife in another translation) respectively). Unfortunately, this embarrassing, self serving trait is certainly over the top (if not an embarrassment) when Singapore gains notoriety for the barbaric act of tissue paper choping at hawlker centres, being the biggest losers internationally in terms of investments in public lottery systems.
  
  Sans this insane greed for obscenely more, Singapore is likely to do much better than it presently does now.
  ====================
  http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/small-country-large-stakes-sporeans-are-worlds-biggest-gamblers
  Small country, large stakes: S'poreans are world's biggest gamblers
  Small country, large stakes: S'poreans are world's biggest gamblers
  GODWIN NG
  THE NEW PAPER May 27, 2015
  
  Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays are Mr Chan Kim Ban's favourite days of the week.
  At 7pm on those days, the retiree turns on his iPad and opens the SG Live4D application to check the latest 4D results.
  Mr Chan, 82, is an avid punter who has been betting with Singapore Pools since its inception in 1968.
  He told The New Paper: "I started gambling when I was 30. Back then, there was no Singapore Pools so I placed my bets with private operators."
  He estimates that he has spent over $100,000 in bets with Singapore Pools and spends close to $5,000 a year on 4D and the occasional Toto.
  While the national average spent by local gamblers last year is much lower at US$1,019 (S$1,361), it was enough for La Fleur's Magazine, which reports on the US$262 billion global lottery industry, to name Singaporeans as the biggest lottery spenders.
  That figure is close to 1.5 times that of the second-ranked Massachusetts State Lottery, where the average spent last year was US$730.
  One reason given for the high lottery sales is the large number of betting outlets here, which makes it convenient for local gamblers to place their bets.
  
  MOST POPULAR
  A 2014 survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling showed that 4D is the most popular gambling activity among Singaporeans.
  Of the 3,000 Singapore residents surveyed, 35 per cent bet on 4D while over a quarter bought Toto, making it the second most popular game here.
  In total, local punters spent close to $8 billion a year on games run by Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.
  Although Mr Chan has lost more money than he has won, he told TNP that he will not be giving up gambling any time soon.
  He said: "I will continue to buy 4D until I die or lose my memory."
  [email protected]
  
  HELPLINES
  National Council on Problem Gambling
  1800-6668-668
  http://www.ncpg.org.sg
  Thye Hua Kwan Problem Gambling Recovery Centre 6576-0840
  http://www.thkmc.org.sg/thk-problem-gambling-recovery-centre/
  One Hope Centre 6547-1011
  http://www.onehopecentre.org
  We Care Community Services 6471-5346
  http://www.wecare.org.sg