Gambling crackdown challenges the odds

With habits already entrenched, the 'Say No' campaign seen as too little too late since legal soccer betting

Educators and social workers warn that government action launched this week to discourage students from gambling is not enough, with soccer betting already getting out of hand in many schools.

Gambling has become a serious problem in nearly 30 secondary schools, according to Michael Chan Wing-ho, a social worker and project officer of the Society for Truth and Light.

'Teachers in these schools say the situation is getting out of hand,' he said. 'The amount of bets made by students range from below $50 to as much as $3,000 a month, and they are making bets by organising small groups themselves, sneaking out to Hong Kong Jockey Club offices, or turning to illegal syndicates.'

His comments - based on his visits to the schools - came at the launch of a 'Say No To Gambling' campaign launched by the Hong Kong Education City and the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) this week, which aims at preventing students from participating in soccer betting.

But Mr Chan said the campaign had come too late as soccer had already become a hot topic among students after the legalisation of soccer gambling in the summer, because unlike racing, soccer had always been perceived as a popular sports activity. It is legal for those over 18 to gamble, which would include Form Seven students.