23-10-2010, 06:57 AM
Oct 23, 2010
the HOUSEWIVES
Seeking thrills to chase boredom away
IN BETWEEN ferrying her four children to and from school, Mrs S.M. Wong makes a quick stop at the casinos in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
The housewife in her 40s describes herself as a 'happy, positive' gambler. 'I don't consider it gambling, it is more like a pastime or form of entertainment, like shopping,' she says.
Mrs Wong, who is married to a doctor, usually drops in at the casinos twice a week on weekday afternoons, staying no longer than an hour each time. 'I give a running commentary to my friends and family on the phone as I play,' says the jackpot player who has an annual membership at both RWS and MBS.
'I got the memberships so I would not feel the pressure to win back my $100 and stay longer than necessary... If I win, I leave,' she says. Her biggest win was $15,000 while her biggest loss was $1,000.
She has met many housewives like herself at both casinos. Many are partial to the one-armed bandits.
Indeed, on The Straits Times' visits, we found many working the machines and tables, especially of games such as blackjack, baccarat and pontoon.
One, who wants to be known only as Madam Chang, plays at MBS almost every day.
'My husband pays for my annual levy and my bets,' says the housewife in her 50s. 'I'm happy that Singapore has its own casinos because I can play the jackpot to while away my time. When I play mahjong with friends, I have to worry about whether our friendship will sour when they lose.'
Madam Chang spends about $100 on each visit, the same amount she spends playing mahjong.
Madam Leong Mooi, 58, a housewife on her third visit to RWS, tells The Straits Times she would go to the casinos more often if she could afford it.
'But $100 is a lot of money to pay and I definitely can't afford to pay the $2,000 annual membership. Luckily, they serve free coffee and tea and tidbits here,' she says in Cantonese.
The mother of two - her children are in their 30s - makes small bets of between $5 and $10 by piggybacking on the chips of others.
'My family members do not know I'm here. They would not like it if they knew,' she says. She is elated with the $75 profit she makes that day, having lost $100 on two previous visits.
Dr Thomas Lee, a consultant at the National Addictions Management Service and acting chief of the addiction medicine department at the Institute of Mental Health, says: 'Housewives have a greater proportion of disposable time. This can lead to boredom, and hence a need to seek excitement and thrill that casino gambling may be able to provide.
'They are more likely to face difficulties recovering from gambling losses because... they have no stable income.'
He adds: 'Furthermore, housewives may neglect their responsibilities at home. There are overseas news reports of mothers who left their young children unattended while they gambled, leading to poor health and fatalities in some cases.'
WONG KIM HOH
the HOUSEWIVES
Seeking thrills to chase boredom away
IN BETWEEN ferrying her four children to and from school, Mrs S.M. Wong makes a quick stop at the casinos in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
The housewife in her 40s describes herself as a 'happy, positive' gambler. 'I don't consider it gambling, it is more like a pastime or form of entertainment, like shopping,' she says.
Mrs Wong, who is married to a doctor, usually drops in at the casinos twice a week on weekday afternoons, staying no longer than an hour each time. 'I give a running commentary to my friends and family on the phone as I play,' says the jackpot player who has an annual membership at both RWS and MBS.
'I got the memberships so I would not feel the pressure to win back my $100 and stay longer than necessary... If I win, I leave,' she says. Her biggest win was $15,000 while her biggest loss was $1,000.
She has met many housewives like herself at both casinos. Many are partial to the one-armed bandits.
Indeed, on The Straits Times' visits, we found many working the machines and tables, especially of games such as blackjack, baccarat and pontoon.
One, who wants to be known only as Madam Chang, plays at MBS almost every day.
'My husband pays for my annual levy and my bets,' says the housewife in her 50s. 'I'm happy that Singapore has its own casinos because I can play the jackpot to while away my time. When I play mahjong with friends, I have to worry about whether our friendship will sour when they lose.'
Madam Chang spends about $100 on each visit, the same amount she spends playing mahjong.
Madam Leong Mooi, 58, a housewife on her third visit to RWS, tells The Straits Times she would go to the casinos more often if she could afford it.
'But $100 is a lot of money to pay and I definitely can't afford to pay the $2,000 annual membership. Luckily, they serve free coffee and tea and tidbits here,' she says in Cantonese.
The mother of two - her children are in their 30s - makes small bets of between $5 and $10 by piggybacking on the chips of others.
'My family members do not know I'm here. They would not like it if they knew,' she says. She is elated with the $75 profit she makes that day, having lost $100 on two previous visits.
Dr Thomas Lee, a consultant at the National Addictions Management Service and acting chief of the addiction medicine department at the Institute of Mental Health, says: 'Housewives have a greater proportion of disposable time. This can lead to boredom, and hence a need to seek excitement and thrill that casino gambling may be able to provide.
'They are more likely to face difficulties recovering from gambling losses because... they have no stable income.'
He adds: 'Furthermore, housewives may neglect their responsibilities at home. There are overseas news reports of mothers who left their young children unattended while they gambled, leading to poor health and fatalities in some cases.'
WONG KIM HOH