Sports betting license scrapped?

• The sports betting license was not awarded to Ascot Sports. The reason given is that many are against it.


• It was followed by a comment by a Datuk that he was pleased that the sports betting license was not given or else match fixing in local football might occur.


• Both reasons are equally unacceptable to me. Let me first answer the comment from the Datuk.


• I wonder if he had any experience of seeing how things operate in developed countries.


• Countries like Australia and UK have sports betting. In fact, their sports betting games cover not just soccer but various other sports including tennis, horse racing and even greyhound races.


• Specifically, if we look at just soccer alone, the Australians and British hardly face any match fixing scandals. If any, they are dealt with swiftly by the cops.


• And the best part is - both Australia and England are participants in the World Cup. Their games and spirit to play were not damaged at all.


• So, dear Datuk, and the rest who used the excuse that it could destroy our game, please don't ever use it again. Tak masuk akal.


• The Opposition is dancing away knowing that what they opposed have been agreed by the Government. But those guys practice Politics First, Putrajaya Now concept.


• We, on the other hand, being the loyalists of 1Malaysia Government who uphold the concept of People First, Performance Now, surely can do better than those clowns in the Opposition.

• Double standards should not be applied on sports betting and numbers forecast betting.


• By not awarding the sports betting license with all sorts of reasons given which cover religion, politics, popularity and impact on society, there is little reason left to defend the numbers forecast betting games and horse racing betting games. Right or not ?


• What is the justification to ban or not allow sports betting but to allow numbers betting now? Will we see a ban of numbers betting soon too ?


• Some Datuk or Tan Sri from the relevant Government Ministry or agency must now come up with a clear explanation. Don't just close the books and say we should move on.


• I am of the opinion that the sports betting license should be awarded. I am not a gambler. But there are reasons to this.

• Sir, even without the sports betting license and even with the eradication of illegal syndicates, the people can still access the Internet to place sports bets with registered bookies from other countries.


• What's next ? Bring in MCMC ? I wonder.


• It is always important to have an identifiable target group. This "legal" population of sports gamblers can then be subject to targets from the various Ministries that deal with social ills.


• We can then adopt all measures possible to solve issues such as addiction to gambling under effective campaign measures.


• You can get more details from my article - The Sports Betting License.