'Legalizing gambling will up city revenue'

Former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin wants the Sutiyoso administration to adopt the policy he implemented in the 1970s legalizing gambling and prostitution, arguing it would make the capital more attractive and prosperous. He said the huge amount of money earned from the lotteries and casinos of the day was used to finance development projects in the city. The Jakarta Post asked residents their opinion on the issue.

Rissalwan, 26, is a post graduate student of social development studies at University of Indonesia; he is also a lecturer at the university. He lives in Depok:

I support the idea of making gambling legal in the capital. It would make it easy to control, just like drug use in the Netherlands.

The current situation is like a war with invisible enemies: gambling activities take place everywhere but we never know exactly where and how.

The legalization of gambling by limiting it to one particular place would bring tax revenue to the city.

I think the most important thing to consider is that the chosen location has to be far from the city, on an island or in the hills somewhere. They can put gambling centers and prostitution houses together.

Aji, 29, is a security guard for a company in Blok M, South Jakarta. He lives in Pademangan subdistrict, Tangerang:

Frankly, I do gamble, but only small bets. It's something we do just to kill the time with my friends on the train from home to Blok M.

I like Bang Ali's idea of legalizing gambling which is, actually, practiced in all corners of the city.

Some gambling places are even guarded by hired police officers.

If gambling is relocated to a certain area, the government would get additional revenue. But of course, we don't want to see that money fall into the hands of a few officials only. It must be used to help poor people like me.

By the way, where will the gambling center be located? Can I come and play?

--The Jakarta Post