I was at the coffeeshop when Aunty Nancy came by to have her lunch. She had recently been to a tour on the operations of Singapore Pools, Singapore's largest legal lottery operator. She shared that members of the public can witness the makings of the winning numbers at Paradiz Centre. Also, Singapore Pools allocate a percentage of its earnings to charitable causes.
With that said, she commented that gambling is actually a form of tax in Singapore. When one gambles, a portion of that gamble goes to good causes. If you win, you get a tax refund. If you lose, you are just paying your day-to-day tax.
Gambling has surfaced as a very hot topic ever since the Singapore government decided to allow the building of casinos in the city state. There have been so much debates about the decision such that it is meaningless for me to reiterate them in this blog.
I have seen how gambling destroyed people's careers and family. I had seen the destructive experiences that gambling could impose. But there is also the happy face of gambling.
If the monetary component in gambling makes it a form of tax, then the psychological factor would make it a form of spiritual tax. Gambling provides the "feel-good" factor, just like any other addiction. It also provides a hope for the middle and low income group - the one chance to strike it big and live a luxurious life.
In the end of the day, gambling like tax will just suck your money into a black hole. And as taxpayer, you don't directly enjoy the benefits of your contribution. So if gambling is a form of tax, then why bother gambling?
With that said, she commented that gambling is actually a form of tax in Singapore. When one gambles, a portion of that gamble goes to good causes. If you win, you get a tax refund. If you lose, you are just paying your day-to-day tax.
Gambling has surfaced as a very hot topic ever since the Singapore government decided to allow the building of casinos in the city state. There have been so much debates about the decision such that it is meaningless for me to reiterate them in this blog.
I have seen how gambling destroyed people's careers and family. I had seen the destructive experiences that gambling could impose. But there is also the happy face of gambling.
If the monetary component in gambling makes it a form of tax, then the psychological factor would make it a form of spiritual tax. Gambling provides the "feel-good" factor, just like any other addiction. It also provides a hope for the middle and low income group - the one chance to strike it big and live a luxurious life.
In the end of the day, gambling like tax will just suck your money into a black hole. And as taxpayer, you don't directly enjoy the benefits of your contribution. So if gambling is a form of tax, then why bother gambling?
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