This topic reminds me of a funny experience I had two years ago. My big sister had a friend who placed bets on sports and often predicted the outcomes of games correctly. Watching him cash out every week grabbed my attention. One day, he came over to our house and placed a bet on his phone. As I saw him do this, I developed an immediate interest in betting. He then asked me how much money I would be willing to bet.
He advised me not to spend too much money, just in case something unexpected happened. That way, I wouldn’t feel too upset or financially strained. Unfortunately, I didn't take his advice to heart. Instead, I went to my banking app and transferred him some money, hoping to double or even triple my investment.
He placed the bet for me, and I waited patiently, backing it up with some prayers. After a while, I heard him scream, and I thought something terrible had occurred. I rushed into the house to see what was going on, and he exclaimed, "The game don cut!" My mind immediately went to, "What game?" I took a deep breath and asked, "What game, please?" He replied, "The game we played." At that moment, my whole body started shaking, vibrating to an unknown rhythm.
That night, I couldn't close my eyes until morning. I found myself rolling restlessly from left to right. I hadn’t lost millions, but the profit I was expecting was worth millions. I had even planned which car I wanted to buy with that money, but unfortunately, my dream of owning that car came to an abrupt end that night.
From that day on, whenever I hear the word "betting," I tighten my shoes and prepare to run for my life because I haven’t developed a thick enough skin for it yet. Gambling is for those with strong hearts, not for soft-hearted people like me who would cry their eyes out after losing.
People from my part of the world often refer to gambling as “a spirit” because of its addictive nature. Many who engage in gambling find it extremely difficult to stop. They place bets every day, even with their last penny. Viewing gambling as a “spirit” makes sense because you can see these individuals lose their money yet continue to play until they are financially drained. Often, you’ll see them walking home with nothing. At the same time, when money does come in, it can arrive in large sums.
Many see gambling as a harmless game, but it can become dangerous when someone becomes addicted to it. No doubt, gambling has the potential to turn people into millionaires overnight; I’ve heard and witnessed stories like that. Just like they say, there are both negative and positive impacts to consider. I knew a friend back in school who used his school fees to gamble, lost it, and then his parents said they wouldn't pay that particular school fee for that session. He was left in despair.
Gambling is illegal in my country yet people still engage in it because of the financial benefits they derive. I don’t believe the government can effectively stop it now that it has become ingrained in society. How can you stop something that helps pay the bills? The only real solution would be for the government to provide jobs for its citizens, but even that isn’t a guarantee.
Thanks for reading 🧡
