Meet the migrant workers who volunteer to stop their ‘brothers’ from excessive gambling
Migrant workers in Singapore volunteer to combat problem gambling among peers through outreach and self-exclusion programs.Summary
In Singapore, over 40 migrant workers serve as C.a.N Ambassadors, volunteering to raise awareness about problem gambling and encourage self-exclusion among their peers. The program, launched in 2022 by the police’s Casino Crime Investigation Branch and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), has conducted 35 outreach sessions in dormitories. Uddin Jashim, a safety coordinator, helped six friends stop gambling after witnessing a peer lose $2,500 in a single night. Similarly, Miah Md Sakil convinced 15 workers to apply for self-exclusion, including one who lost $12,000. Foreign workers’ exclusions from gambling activities increased fivefold in 2024, with 24,000 barred from online betting and 28,000 from jackpot machines. The NCPG collaborates with the Ministry of Manpower, police, and the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) to spread awareness through banners, multilingual guides, and outreach at popular venues. Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands also run responsible gambling initiatives. The MWC has assisted over 260 workers with self-exclusion applications, emphasizing preventive measures even for those without current issues.
(Source：The Straits Times)