Gambling is good for you..!!

Tycoon defends gambling

KUALA LUMPUR - LEGALISING sports betting in Malaysia will generate over US$900 million (S$1.29 billion) a year for government coffers, the magnate leading the controversial project said in remarks published on Sunday.

The government in May granted a sports betting licence to Ascot Sports, a company controlled by influential tycoon Vincent Tan, in a bid to boost tax revenue, but the move has run into stiff opposition. 'By legalising sports betting... the government could earn annual revenue of up to three billion ringgit (S$1.29 billion) through taxes,' Mr Tan was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper. 'Why are some politicians so against this,' he added.

Muslim groups have denounced gambling and three opposition controlled states have imposed a ban on legalised sports betting which they fear could cause debt problems for punters and other social woes.

Speaking out against the criticism for the first time, Mr Tan said punters in Malaysia would be able to place their bets from September in time for the hugely popular English Premier League football season. Mr Tan is chairman and chief executive of property-to-gaming group Berjaya which bought a 70 per cent state in Ascot Sports from the tycoon for 525 million ringitt.

He said Berjaya would appeal to the opposition controlled states - Selangor, Penang and Kedah - to lift their ban on legal sports betting. Berjaya said the illegal sports betting market in Malaysia was worth as much as 20 billion ringgit a year, the paper reported.

Malaysia bans its majority Muslims from gambling but allows betting at a casino operated by Genting Group, on the national lottery and on horse-racing. Government officials have said they plan to channel the revenue generated from legalised betting into sports development, but that the move will not eradicate match-fixing which has long blighted football in Asia. -- AFP

Hartawan derma RM525j untuk kebajikan

KUALA LUMPUR: Hartawan hasil judi, Vincent Tan semalam mengumumkan beliau akan mendermakan RM525 juta ($224 juta) bagi tujuan kebajikan.

Menurut Encik Tan, antara orang terkaya di Malaysia, wang itu diperolehi daripada penjualan kepentingan beliau dalam Ascots Sports bulan lalu kepada Berjaya Corp, konglomerat yang dikawalnya.

Berjaya Corp memiliki syarikat pertaruhan (JUDI) sukan berlesen pertama di Malaysia apabila menguasai 70 peratus kepentingan dalam Ascot Sports.

Vincent Tan didakwa menaja ahli UMNO atau parti politik Barisan Nasional sebagai balasan terhadap kerajaan yang meluluskan lesen perjudian sukan tersebut.

Semalam 22 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, melancarkan kempen menentang tindakan kerajaan meluluskan lesen perjudian sukan. -- Agensi.