Abolition of gambling in Bali<\/p>\n
From Bali Post<\/p>\n
The idea of the regional police chief, Made Mangku Pastika, to
\nabolish gambling in Bali deserves a thumbs-up. The thing is, I
\nhave lived in poverty due to my previous indulgence in gambling.
\nShould this great ideal come true, I am sure future generations
\nwill be saved from the bad effects of gambling. In this context I
\nwould like to suggest some pragmatic ways that may lead, in the
\nlong run, to the abolition of gambling.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that cockfights in Bali are traditionally
\nlinked to religious rites that are approved by the local
\nauthorities. At every cockfighting event, betting is involved.<\/p>\n
The eradication of gambling, in my opinion, is like treating a
\nwound. For the treatment of the wound to be more effective, the
\narea of the wound should be enlarged so as to allow more medicine
\nto react with it. The same seems to be true with cockfights or
\ngambling. Let them be performed in a specially designated
\nlocation (or locations), in regencies.<\/p>\n
The location and events would be offered to the public through
\nopen bidding. It would not be surprising if someone were willing
\nto pay hundreds of millions of rupiah, or even up to a billion
\nrupiah, for a period of a year.<\/p>\n
Those who came and gambled in the area would have to obtain
\nsome sort of entrance ticket and the money collected would
\nsubstantially add to the local authority's revenue. Only known
\ngamblers would be permitted to buy tickets. Newcomers, let alone
\nteenagers, under whatever circumstances, would be strictly
\nprohibited from entering the arena. Likewise, traders and vendors
\nof any kind of merchandise would have to be carefully
\nscrutinized.<\/p>\n
I strongly believe that, in the long run, the younger
\ngeneration might have little or no interest in gambling,
\nparticularly cockfighting, and might forget about it altogether.
\nThus, gambling in Bali could be abolished completely.<\/p>\n
For all these programs to be carried out as planned, strong
\nsupervision would have to be imposed, involving the local
\npecalang (village guards) if necessary. However, it is a well-
\nestablished tradition that cockfights, or rather \"blood
\nsacrifice\" (known locally as tabuh rah), are considered part of
\ntemple rituals, without which the sanctity of the rituals is
\nperceived to be much reduced. In this case, cockfights might be
\nallowed, provided that the event did not exceed three bouts.
\nAlso, no betting would be allowed.<\/p>\n
JRO NYOMAN SRIDANA WK, Buleleng, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abolition-of-gambling-in-bali-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }