Sports Betting

Sport Betting The issue of sport betting gives rise to many controversies and opposed by lots of people since Malaysian government legalizes sport betting and will give the license to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd to be the first and only legalized sports betting operator. In doing so, government wishes that Ascot would help them to curb illegal betting, especially during the time of the FIFA World Cup and to avoid losing tax revenue estimated to be up to 4 billion ringgit a year due to illegal sports betting. The service of sport betting will be offered through selected Sports Toto outlets and through the telephone for non-Muslims aged above 21 only. The government stated that the legal gambling industry will contributes enormously to the economy and generates huge income for the country. According to a statistics, total tax revenue of Malaysia in 2009 amounted RM158.6 billion, and the gambling industry contributed RM3 billion or 2% of it.
From the public’s point of views, the legalization of sport betting brings negative impacts to the social harmony. According to the survey report of The Against Domestic Violence Society of Penang, more than 60% of Malaysians are involved in at least one gambling activities, 40% of people are gambling every week and adults spend an annual average of RM6, 000 to buy lottery tickets. This would lead to the lost of family fortunes and then family would be broken down. As a result, the number of family violence would be increasing. The husband who loses money would turn into violent or force his wife into prostitution to feed their habit or help to pay debt. Additionally, legalization of sport betting would negatively influence young people. They are the future masters of nation. When government legalizes the sport betting, they are intended to train the young people from national potential leader into the potential gambler.
Moreover, they think sports betting would adversely affect the country’s economy. When people are too dedicated