By Sia Ling Xin

THE national drive against gambling will now reach out to youths on their own turfs - on social-media platforms like Facebook and blogs.

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is roping in young people to design social-media initiatives to spread the anti-gambling message to their peers.

Gamblers here appear to be starting from a younger age, and the council wants to prevent this problem from worsening, said Mrs Mildred Tan, who chairs the NCPG's public-communications subcommitee.

A survey done last year by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports showed that three in four respondents who had gambled started at the age of 24 or younger, up from about six in 10 in 2005.

The survey also showed that seven in 10 gambled at least once a week before they turned 30 years old, up from about six in 10 in 2005.

Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, said that NCPG's initiative can encourage people to seek help.

But face-to-face counselling is still necessary to tackle the problem at its root, she said.

Student Colin Lim, 21, who bets on soccer every week, does not think that the initiative will be successful as he feels that people will not absorb the anti-gambling messages.

The NCPG was set up four years ago as part of Singapore's national framework to address problem gambling.

Previously, it raised awareness of problem gambling mainly through the mass media, but, from this month to the end of next year, it will reach out to the public through community events too.

It will stage anti-gambling skits at community-centre roadshows and getai concerts in the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

It will also start a new advertising campaign that will include a 30-second television ad by film director Eric Khoo.

lingxin@sph.com.sg

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