KUCHING: The state police have been carrying out raids on illegal gambling outlets for quite sometimes now. Following their success, they are now turning their eyes on illegal reload service providers throughout the state. Their effort is commendable and should be duly supported by the people. In view of this, chairman of SUPP Kota Sentosa Branch, Wilfred Yap urged the public in a statement, to play their part by providing useful tips and intelligence to the police, in order to effectively curb these illegal activities.
“As responsible citizens, we should never turn a blind eye and simply mind our own business. Even if it does not affect you directly, it will in some other ways. Working closely with the authorities concerned will greatly enhance their effectiveness and increase their chances of success in making arrest, which will eventually lead to prosecution,” he said. Yap added that illegal online gambling is fast becoming yet another major social problem in Sarawak apart from drug issues and it is fast gaining popularity mainly due to the convenience it provides, since all one needs is just a cheap smart phone or tablet and the ability to go online.
Furthermore, he added, reload services which are readily available in many public places has worsen the already bad situation. “We can’t deny the fact that online gambling has become a major social issue nowadays, and for those who are looking to make quick and easy money, this is indeed very tempting and hard to resist. In fact, it can even be very addictive! But luck does not always stand on our side. When these people lose their money, they want to keep playing to win back their losses,” he said.
As a result to that, Yap said, many people spent their entire fortune and lifetime savings on online or other forms of gambling, some even got into serious debt problems with loan sharks. Meanwhile, Yap also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s use of smart phones and check for suspicious activities as more often than not, these online gambling apps are designed to look just like harmless, innocent games.
