Casino games popular in shops; parents worry over influence
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Casino games prove popular in shops as parents worry over influence
By Ng Jing Yng, TODAY | Posted: 03 March 2010 0626 hrsSINGAPORE: With casino games such as roulette flying off the shelves, some parents are worried about the influence games of chance might have on their kids.
Cashing in on the casino hype, some major toy stores are offering games resembling those played at casinos, such as roulette and poker with the full works - money chips, cards and dice.
Major toy chain Toys "R" Us sells these items in the "family fun and games" section while OG department stores and Mustafa Centre carry mini-roulette sets in their toy sections.
Parents whom MediaCorp spoke to had mixed responses about the sale of these items in toy shops but all said they would not buy them for their children.
Ms Anita Fam, mother of two school-going children, said she was deeply disturbed to see roulette sets being displayed prominently when she visited a Toy "R" Us outlet over the weekend.
Ms Fam, 46, said it sends a signal that gambling is acceptable. "Children are very impressionable and this could be the start of a slippery slope," she said.
But Ms Sharon Yeo, who has a five-year-old son, said exposing children to these games might be useful.
"Instead of restricting his knowledge, I'd rather teach my son the rights and wrongs of gambling," said Ms Yeo, 33, who was at a Toys "R" Us outlet on Tuesday.
MediaCorp, which visited three Toys "R" Us outlets over the past two days, found that stocks for both casino game sets were running low.
The roulette sets, which have been on promotion since early this year, are placed near the entrance of some outlets. According to sales staff, the majority of buyers for both items are adults and older teens.
At OG stores, staff said that the mini-roulette sets were brought in during Christmas and sales have been positive, with a complete sell-out at one outlet. Mustafa Centre, on the other hand, said it has been selling the item for some time now.
But child experts are not too alarmed. Dr Daniel Fung, head of child psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, pointed out that toy shops also sell items like toy guns which encourage kids to play shooting and killing games. He said it is up to parents to decide what they want for their children.
Psychiatrist Dr Chou Mei Ling likens casino games to board games such as Monopoly, in which fake bank notes are used.
"Through roulette or poker, children can learn the concepts of chance and risk playing, but parents must also teach them the consequences of incurring debt," said Dr Chou, director of Centre for Creative Development. - TODAY -
Why the govt allow this? In time to come, we will see more kings and queens of gamblers.
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I am Milo Yan Fei!
/me hurls an Ace at Dondontan...
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Originally posted by Mr Milo:
I am Milo Yan Fei!
/me hurls an Ace at Dondontan...
this not tiny tv channel.