by Chen Jing Ting

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Tommy (not his real name) could well be Singapore's youngest loanshark victim, chalking up a $30,000 debt.

Hooked on Internet soccer betting, he would place bets on the Spanish Primera Liga, on as many as nine games a day.

He started with $50 bets with his friends and eventually moved on to $1,000 wagers online, using his friends' accounts.

When his losses started piling up, those friends introduced him to loansharks to make good on his debts.

His father, a company director, and his mother, an administration executive, found out when the loansharks came a-calling.

Youths like Tommy are worrying counsellors, who are seeing more young Singaporeans hooked on gambling.

One Hope Centre, which counsels youths with gambling addictions, saw 12 such youths last year. This year, in the first three months alone, it has already seen eight.

The Reverend Dr Edward Job, executive director of Christian Care Services Singapore, said: '(Tommy) doesn't think he has a problem, so he doesn't want to be counselled. I could only advise his parents to block betting websites (on his computer) and cut off his mobile phone's Internet access.'

On a profile of young gambling addicts, One Hope's executive director, the Reverend Tan Lye Keng, said they are mainly in their 20s and usually turn to Internet soccer betting.

Such websites provide those who bet with credit, so youths do not need much capital before they start to bet.

'The gamblers are tech-savvy and can easily access the Internet through computers and mobile phones,' explained the Rev Tan.

jtchen@sph.com.sg

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