Dear editor,

It is not surprising that the proposal to legalize sports gambling has generated so much debate. Because there are both pros and cons to the idea, public opinion on this subject is often divided.

Legalizing sports gambling, it is true, will help enhance revenue, reduce state taxes and create jobs. But it has also led to an increase in crime rates since those who lose a lot of money sometimes resort to desperate acts.

It has also given rise to bankruptcies partly because gambling is so addictive and some people are known to gamble away all their earnings. Studies of gambling have also shown that it has a negative impact upon marriages and families.

It is equally important to assess its impact upon sports itself. As a former national football hero, Abdul Ghani Minhat put it, by legalizing betting on the outcome of matches, we will not improve the quality of the game! On the contrary, it could pervert and subvert the sport.

It is because the adverse consequences of gambling far outweigh its merits that most religions regard it as a vice and prohibit its practice. It is always wise for individuals and societies to live by the moral principles embodied in our religions. It is because we have deviated from these principles that humankind is in such a mess.

Chandra Muzaffar
Kuala Lumpur
muza@just-international.org