Football Fans Warned To Stay Away From Bookies

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2018-05-28 HKT 14:14

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  The Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre are advising football fans to stay away from gambling during the World Cup. Photo: RTHK

Alfred Chan talks to RTHK's Frances Sit

The Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre has issued another warning ahead of the football World Cup, urging fans not to bet on matches.

The 2018 World Cup begins on June 14 in Russia.

The gambling rehabilitation centre said there was a 30 percent surge in the number of people seeking help with gambling problems immediately after the last World Cup.

The centre again called for the legal minimum age for gambling to be raised from 18 to 21.

Spokesman Alfred Chan admitted that the government may have its reasons for not wanting to increase the legal age.

But he said officials should at least study the issue to see how serious the gambling problem has become, and whether the public backs changing the legal age.