I REFER to Thursday's report on gamblers getting younger and more Malays gambling, 'Dicey affair: Gamblers getting younger'.

It is a given that gamblers are getting younger. It is even likelier that more youngsters will become gamblers because the Government has condoned gambling by allowing more Singapore Pools outlets to be part of the heartland landscape.

If one steps into any heartland estate, one sees long lines of people from all walks of life and of all ages queuing to 'buy hope' so as to get rich quick.

The locations of Singapore Pools outlets near the POSBank, post offices, coffee shops, markets and shopping centres have made gambling on 4-D, Toto and the assortment of betting games an integral and routine part of residents' activities.

Why not make gambling more difficult by stopping or closing down all Singapore Pools outlets in the heartlands?

Chan Siew Leong