The dangers and repercussions of gambling and betting aren't a new thing. Again, given its widespread recognition and participation amongst people around the world, we've come to see its dangers and how it lures people into losing their wealth or little holdings all in the name of trying to amass wealth in the dubious nature of gambling that, on 95% of times, goes wrong. Given these downsides, many have called for the need to make it illegal to save addicts from falling victim again, and here I'll be stating my opinion on this.
It's understandable that the desire of most people is to accumulate wealth and save themselves and their families from any possibilities of lack of poverty. I mean, if you've experienced lack of being poor before, you'll be able to relate to that and know how desperate you'll be to leave such a state for a better one, and when a fast avenue presents itself in the form of gambling and betting, you'll find such people trying everything to win and become wealthy overnight without going through the normal work or stress routine that's involved in wealth acquisition.
I'm starting with this explanation and clarification because I know what it feels like to lack or have nothing; I also have years of experience betting in the sport aspect of it, and even though I didn't lose much, I should say my winnings and losses are like 50/50. I still can't help but understand the dangers betting poses, and if you're an individual who doesn't know when to draw the line, you'll find yourself pouring all your little holdings into it and most likely lose, leading to you being broke.
But aside from knowing what it feels like to be broke and desiring to change the situation, it's also worth noting that most of these gamblers and bettors who ended up losing everything are, as a result of their greed, since you can be so greedy to want to win millions of naira with just a thousand naira or your last cash, then you shouldn't be pained if you lose it.
Back then, when I still indulged in betting, I saw an individual who was broke and was begging for food, and when a good Samaritan gave him some cash to buy food with, rather than buying food with the money, he took it to a betting shop to stake a game on the virtual sport betting, with the hope of multiplying the money; he ended up losing everything and returning back to the same point of begging again.
And seeing how he squandered the first money he was given, maybe people who witnessed it refrain from helping him again, because they believe he's so addicted to betting that if you give him any money, that's where he'll waste it, regardless of what the money is meant for or his state at that time. Those who summoned the courage to help him would rather buy the food and give it to him than give him money to buy it himself, because they know he won't.
I've also seen several other people who lost their hard-earned money to betting and gambling; some even bet with their belongings, such as their phones, cars, and houses. It's that bad, and at the end of the day, you'll find them looking like they don't know what came over them, forgetting it's their own greed, and so in light of that and many others, I'll stand with the call to make betting and gambling illegal.
I believe having such a system in place will prevent people from seeking dubious means to make wealth overnight, and this will save them from the addiction they're presently suffering from, betting and gambling, that has led to the loss of several important things in their lives. This call is a good one, and I hope the world at large will make these declarations, because if not, then it's obvious that people will still find a way to partake in another country where it's legalized.
But in the event that this is a worldwide declaration and it's illegal in every single country, then it'll be easily curbed, as people will gradually leave it behind and utilize their money for something more significant, as they won't want to face the wrath of the law if caught guilty of breaking the law against gambling and betting.
All photos are taken and edited on canva.