Counting the true costs of Macau’s casinos and the misery they cause

Three friends of mine lost their life savings and their souls to gambling and they all took their own lives.

Their tragedies are the tip of an iceberg and the facts are kept from the public about how serious this problem has become.

Sometimes, when I am on a bus in Macau, I have overheard gamblers from Hong Kong and the mainland talking, saying they will have sell the property they own to pay off their debts to loan sharks. They curse the gaming operators for the businesses they run.

I think gambling is an evil business that can destroy people’s lives. Once people become addicted, it wrecks homes and marriages. Despite the harm it does, it attracts men and women from all walks of life. They are drawn to the casino floor even though their chances of winning are minimal.

Even if someone wins and keeps winning over a short period of time, statistics show that they will start losing again and stand to lose everything if they have become addicted.

My advice to people is simply not to start gambling, so you do not expose yourself to the risks of developing a problem. It worries me that in Macau, the gaming industry is often disguised as being a positive form of entertainment.