A Gambler’s Story. Zita wanted to bring to our notice the dangers of gambling. She thought that we may have encountered such patients. 
This blog is about new entrants to the Colombo Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon (as it was then known) in June 1962. There were a total of 166 in the batch (included 11 from Peradeniya).Please address all communications to: colmedgrads1962@gmail.com.You may bookmark this page for easier access later. Header image: Courtesy Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (2011 - 2014). Please use the search bar using a key word to access what interests you
Zita, thank you for taking the time to share this tragic story. Even sadder is the fact that this is not such a rare story. Gambling addiction, like all other addictions, alcohol, drugs and sex, can cause much misery and ruin lives. I am glad that "Shaun" is speaking out and attempting to help others. Once trapped in the spiral of addiction, it is not possible to get out of it alone. I think the first step is to acknowledge that one has a problem.
ReplyDeletePardon the delay in replying to your lovely comment, Srianee. Yes, this one has a happy ending, but unfortunately it's not always the case. Yes, I agree with you, that the first step is to acknowledge one has a problem. Without that there is no 'salvation'! Zita
DeleteZita, interesting story. A friend of mine who used to frequent casinos, had to sell some of his property, at the end. I have yet to come across a gambler who has made a profit.
ReplyDeleteIn the early 1950s, a proctor by the name of IWA Samuel from Jaffna,came all the way to Colombo to bet on race horses. He placed a two rupee bet on a treble(picking the winners of three designated races) and won nearly LKR 100,000.00,as his was the only winning ticket.With his winnings he bought a Renault(like a Quickshaw) as well as a house down 42nd Lane, Wellawatte. That is how I came to know the family. Samuel used to dabble in numerology in a scientific way and the bet was placed based on his methodology.
I play gin rummy with a group of friends, almost every evening, when I am in Colombo. It is really not gambling, although we play for money. It is an excellent form of relaxation for me. At the end of the evening, the spoils are about LKR 5000.00, plus or minus.
Lucky, I am glad you are aware of people who have had gambling 'problem's with good results. Yes of course, there must be these odd ones and thank goodness for that!
DeleteYour playing gin rummy for fun, but hey! LKR 5,000 seems quite innocent considering the stories we hear. I am particularly 'aware' of gambling problems because my father was a gambler. He often gambled on pay day and there were times when he lost the whole pay and came home empty handed!
Thanks,Zeta for highlighting the danger of addiction to gambling.In the past there was Gymkana rasple on horse races held in England and Ceylon.I have heard of stories of loosers who had to sell their properties.When I was living in Tangalle,our neighbour just opposite our house was a gasmbling addict and he had to sell his house to pay back the loan.We medics know very well,addiction to alcohol ruins the whole organs of the body.Sex addiction in the past ended up with chancres to Neuro and Cardio-vascular events.When we visited the Mental hospital,we came across a few patients with delutions,who were the subjectss of meningo-vascular syphilis.Lama loosing LKR 5000.00 seems peanuts at the current value of the rupee.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see a comment from you! And you always have something special to add!You are not alone in your observations and talk to anyone in the professions and they'll have such horror stories to relate. The sad thing is for most of the victims, a happy end is rare. You have added instances of other addictions and delusions and the consequences. These are stories we must circulate among young people so they never 'start'. Once you do the first punt oh that's the beginning of the end! Sorry to be pessimistic but unfortunately that's reality!
Deletezita
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting gambling story. Glad to know that Shaun realised his folly and became a counsellor.
We have been playing Scrabble at home these days. Ranjit suggested playing for money. I pointblank refused. After reading your gambling story, prompted me to give that reply.
It is good for people involved in gambling to read this story or even relate this story to friends or relatives who indulge in gambling. Good lession ! Chira
That's great to hear Chira! Yes, we often start these journeys that end in tragedy with an innocent game like Scrabble. And suddenly your life itself is 'scrabbled', you know what I mean.I find that it can only do good by publicising these sort of stories, for if it prevents just one tragedy, it's worth it!
DeleteThere is a difference between gambling for fun, like Sanath, and being addicted to the habit. It is important to recognise the difference, but unfortunately addicts don't usually have that self awareness. Once when I was visiting Las Vegas for a pathology conference, I stepped into casino to try my luck at one of the slot machines. I decided to play $2.00 (I'm frugal!) and I won $12.00!
ReplyDeleteI decided promptly to quit while I was ahead!
Well done, Srianee! Your good thinking and timely action is exemplary! I know that none of us can think we are exempt from this temptation. If go back on my teen years, I can think of instances like when playing scrabble, when you are suddenly tempted to go on and on, more with the money won in mind than the fun of playing scrabble. I suppose that's where foundations are laid for later disasters! Oh I don't intend to be a prophet of doom and gloom and there are many fun-ful pursuits involving money which are quite ok. The main thing is to keep one's balance. (yes,literally too!)
DeleteZita
ReplyDeleteOur family 4 of us went on a one months tour to England, France, Canada and the States in 2004. Zita, can you remember we visited you in South End On Sea during that period. We ended up in Las vegas and for the fun of it we tried our luck at the slot machines. We did win a small amount as we did not put in a lot of money. We enjoyed Las Vegas as the food was fantastic. It is the ideal place for men who are big eaters, as the food is unlimited, excellent quality and with great variety. The spread was fabulous compared to the other hotels. Chira
Oh, Chira, why don't you write an article for the Blog, on your experience in visiting Las Vegas and all the fun you had? I have never been in these fab places and always like to hear others' experiences.
ReplyDeleteYes I do remember your visit to Southend on Sea. We visited the haunts by the seaside, and we went on the train down the longest pier in the world. Yes, it is! I think it is a mile and a quarter!
I visited with my wife on a guided tour to Las vegas(Medina-city in Arabic),city of gambling.By using 1 dollar coins,I used the slot machine and won a few coins and lost all on repeated gambling.There is always the temtation to go on to make up for the loss.Chira and Srianne had been the lucky two.
ReplyDeleteI am about two weeks late to reply to your comment but I am known as the 'late Zita' aren't I? About your comment on what happened in Las Vegas, consider it a mercy that you didn't win half a million dollars because you would have lost that too, and you would have sold your camera, watch and whatever valuables you had to continue the gambling. I am saying this as I know friends to whom this happened. Further,I had a father who was a gambler, and I know what misery that was for our mum. Thanks for your comment, Sumathi and sorry again for this long delay in acknowledging it.
DeleteZita, Thank you for taking the time to bring to our awareness the perils of these addictions.
ReplyDeleteThey are slippery slopes from which few are able to recover as well as Shaun has - probably easier to nip them in the bud if they can be detected in time. Systems have to be in place to do this on government and organizational levels. Long way to go.
Rohini, once again, pardon me for this late acknowledgment of your very apt comment. How right you are! Shaun did recover and now counsels others. When he spoke during this programme where he was being interviewed by the compere, it was such and eye opener for all the listeners. You're right about the need for government regulation and I think it is a must especially in the case of young gamblers for these days they all have smart phones and some kids have been known to use their father's credit cards and gambled away thousands of pounds!
Delete