Taking Chances With Your Life (Part 2)

I want to share with you one of the most regrettable things I have ever done in my life.

At one point in my life, I was serving as the Honorary Secretary of a non-profit organization.

(You won’t think I am honorable at the end of this story).

The committee decided, just like any other social clubs, we should set up a jackpot room.

I was tasked to chair the project committee together with the club’s accountant, an employee who was educated, intelligent, and a very nice person.

The experience opened a new world to me – fun, exciting and even educational at the beginning but one that I would never step back in again.

The ‘gambling consultants’ were called in. They taught us how to design the room to make it so comfortable you would not want to leave the “man-made paradise.”

You would be lost in time – and there was no clock to jolt you otherwise. To make it even more alluring, we would serve you great food and the best wine.

No matter which way you moved – including going to the toilet – we would have beautiful “money-making machines talking sublimely to your sub-conscious mind.” It would be hard to resist the seductive messages.

They taught us how to get even “saints to fall in love with the sexy hot bods.” They were not talking about my body. 🙂

They were referring to the jackpot machines. These machines were designed to be attractive, beautifully lighted up, exciting, wonderful, appealing … and definitely very destructive.

You would have no chance to escape the pull of death.

The only way to become a millionaire in our “mini casino” is to start by being a billionaire. It was one of the best places to exchange everything for nothing.

By the way, this event happened more than twenty years ago. I was told the technology for destroying lives through gambling has improved by leaps and bounds.

Even back then, the best part, or the worst part I should say, was that you can get hooked fairly quickly. How do I know?

After the jackpot room was opened, our accountant made a decision.

Since she was involved with the financial aspects of the highly lucrative business, she should “try it out just to find out how it works” and “of course, only for a short while.”

She put in a few coins at the start of the day, a few more during lunch time, and another few more at the end of the day.

After four days, her colleagues came to me and literally begged me to observe and help her. It was not difficult to tell – the consultants were right about the “trap” – she was one of the first to be addicted.

Our accountant who should know better than anyone else about the traps and temptations was mindlessly pulling the ‘one-armed bandit,’ the ‘grandfather’ of today’s digital jackpot machines.

She probably continued to pull an imaginary handle even in her sleep. 🙂

Right then, I felt my hands were stained with not just one person’s blood but that of many others.

(If any politician happens to be reading this Love Note, I hope you will feel the same way too. All the money we can earn for our country is not worth it even if one life is destroyed).

One life destroyed is a tragedy.

I would be the first to admit I could be the next victim.

That’s why I never gamble – not during Chinese New Year or ever. Not even for a small bet. I will even consider applying for Casino Exclusion to ban myself from entering the casino.

For those who have taken the first step or many steps into this evil, please note that help is around you and accessible.

Our good government has appointed the National Council On Problem Gambling (www.ncpg.org.sg) to provide useful resources and assistance to those in need.

Please do not gamble – for whatever reason.

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please go to ‘Notes’ found below my profile picture.

Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com

Visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com

Please read them and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!

 

Question: How can we help others who have been sucked into the evil of gambling?