The perils of gambling
I can relate to the horrifying story about Masego Kwenamore and her gambling (YOU, 20 April). For my money (that’s a joke – I have none!) the most pernicious evil, the most ruinous addiction I personally know of, is gambling. I have an addictive personality with a capital A and I’ve been through them all – sex, alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs. All have had me in their vicelike grip but gambling is the worst.
The secret greed that drives it drains your soul. It took away every material possession I had, including my house and two cars, lost me a number of well-paying jobs, destroyed my marriage and alienated me from my family and virtually all my friends. I live alone with nothing, thanks to gambling.
I think casinos, gambling licensing and everything associated with these places in the name of development and job creation is a lie. They’re palaces of evil, catering to the worst in the human spirit, designed to take from the weakest and neediest people in society. I know because I’m one. GAMBLER, EMAIL. Masego Kwenamore, I salute you. You’ve revealed your darkest secrets to I was listening to a radio station where a woman had just won R10 000 cash. The announcer repeatedly tried to confirm with the winner that it was the first time she’d won something and she reiterated that she’d never ever won anything at all before that day. But he kept on asking her, “Nothing at all, not even once?”
I don’t know why he was so amazed. Many of us have never won anything while at the same time you often hear of a person who just keeps on winning fridges, groceries, kettles, holidays and so on. I’m the type who’ll lose my preagreed amount of R200 in about two seconds flat on an annual visit to the casino while gamblers around me rake it in. BIG-TIME LOSER, EMAIL