Singapore had taken a pragmatic approach when deciding to legalise soccer betting, the city-state's police chief said yesterday after addressing a crime conference in Hong Kong. But Police Commissioner Khoon Boon Hui said the city's experience on the impact of the move was not useful to Hong Kong - because Singapore had only legalised betting on local matches. Mr Khoon said that while legal bets on local matches had been offered in Singapore since 1999, there had been little interest in the games and Singaporeans were more interested in international games. 'Soccer gambling previously was only legalised for local games,' he said. 'We understand that the interest hasn't been too high because most of the gamblers in this part of the world follow games throughout the world, mainly in Europe and South America.' He said it was in recognition of citizens' interests in international soccer matches that their Government had now decided to make it legal to bet on the World Cup and English Premier League, starting in May. 'We recognised we had to take a pragmatic approach to gambling. Like in your city, you have legalised gambling on horses,' Mr Khoon said. 'If you don't do that, the illegals will take over all the revenue that can go to charities and the Government. 'It's just a recognition of the fact that there's a lot of interest in the World Cup.' While Mr Khoon said Singapore police would continue to crack down on illegal soccer betting during the World Cup, he did not foresee any law and order problems. Singapore Pools, a gaming company set up by the Government in 1968, estimates the World Cup in May and June will attract bets totalling S$200 million (HK$852 million). For the English Premier League season between August and May next year, Singapore Pools expects to attract up to S$500 million worth of bets. Mr Khoon was speaking after addressing the Transnational Organised Crime Conference organised by Hong Kong police at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. He told the 500 delegates globalisation and technology had helped to extend organised crime networks across the globe. Mr Khoon called on law enforcers to enhance their capabilities by sharing experience and intelligence. 'With 60 per cent of the world's population and some of the fastest growing economies, if Asia becomes a haven for transnational criminal groups, the impact on the world will be devastating,' he said. stella@scmp.com
