Today, lottery players have just under one-in-a-million chance of becoming a millionaire overnight: this week's jackpot has hit six zeros after nobody guessed the correct numbers of the Super 5 lottery last Wednesday.

For those living in perennial hope that Super 5 would one day make them super winners, this was perhaps good news. For many other citizens highly concerned, and rightly so, about the dire situation of those who would go out of their way to be able to buy tickets, and even economise on their spending for their day-to-day livelihood requirements, it was no good news at all.

It is now well known that not everyone is able to resist being taken in by the substantial prize and avoid spending money on such a game while abandoning one's social responsibilities towards one's family. Indeed, Super 5 may make one or a few winners very happy. However, such games of chance, like any practice of gambling, ends up seeing many people with many non-winning tickets in their hands and with less means of securing for themselves and for those under their care the goods necessary for everyday life.

Of course, one has to recognise that many people who buy lottery tickets or participate in some sort of gaming or gambling initiatives are frequently those who enjoy such practice as entertainment. Generally speaking, these people would set aside a balanced amount of money and gamble for fun rather than for the "certainty" of winning. They would normally recognise and keep in mind that they have an extremely remote chance of winning, and avoid betting more than they can afford to lose.

However, such circumstances do not mean that society can stay with hands crossed in the face of the emerging situation, especially in certain circumstances. Society's stand against the culture of games of chance and gambling, and its actions in ensuring the kind of effective preventive and remedial measures required to counter the harm they are bound to inflict on vulnerable people, should be unequivocal. We all desire the highest good for the people. We all believe that society, especially the young, should be protected first and foremost through education. So we should all be concerned.

There exists a social responsibility to put into place a rational strategy for the prevention and treatment of the problems of gambling. Such a strategy has to be based upon synergy and balance among all stakeholders, including the gaming industry itself.

The participation of the gaming industry, perhaps as an equal partner, would appear crucial to the success of the entire effort. One believes that responsible gaming industry organisations would not desire to capitalise on negative behaviour. Gaming industry representatives would be expected to understand that the industry as a whole must act in a socially responsible manner, like any other business that desires to be viable in the long run.

Every effort should be made to also rope in all those who have a valid contribution to make towards the planning and putting into effect of such a national initiative: government and Church organisations, researchers, educators, counsellors, the media and the public at large.

Perhaps the starting point should be the organisation of an official survey to identify and assess the present day gaming and gambling realities of our society, how extensive the problem is and what new measures should be applied to protect people against the risk of putting personal or family priorities upside down or otherwise embarking on a kind of passion that may lead to enslavement.