Action should be taken over gambling den

Nobody wins when criminals exploit workers, especially when it happens in a public place

A group of men playing cards in Madinat Zayed. Ravindranath K / The National

Revelations that gambling is taking place in pedestrian areas near Abu Dhabi’s Madinat Zayed Shopping Cente raise several concerns. Gambling is illegal and there should be zero tolerance wherever it occurs. When the gamblers are people on low incomes, it is exploitative in the extreme. Money that should be feeding workers and their families is instead going into the pockets of criminals. Additionally, this gambling is happening in a public place, causing concern and embarrassment – and even fear – to shoppers and residents, and tarnishing the reputation of the area.

According to a report in The National yesterday, dozens of men are involved in organising the card games at the Madinat Zayed underpass, where pirated CDs and DVDs are also openly on sale. This would appear to be evidence of an organised criminal enterprise, although perhaps not a particularly sophisticated one.

Those believed to be involved in running these games ought to be fully investigated – with an emphasis on any connections they may have with more serious criminal activity. If they are found guilty in court, they should be punished to the full extent of the law.

But perhaps a different approach might be taken with their prospective customers. Many expatriates may not be aware that gambling is illegal, and they may not understand that the odds are always stacked against them. The person, or gang, running the game always wins and somebody else always loses – even when the games are conducted in an apparently transparent manner. What might be more effective in such an instance is robust public education against gambling, including information about the mathematics of gaming, its illegality and the perils of addiction.

It might also be appropriate to examine the reasons why some are turning to gambling. Does the motivation come from financial need, or is it seen as a recreational pursuit to counter boredom? There may be a role for charities and community groups to help those who may be tempted to change their financial habits and find other means of amusement.