Lost in football betting: young gamblers are on the rise

More than 40% owed $100,000 in debt

The 22-year-old was suspected of having gambling debts and fell to his death in Sam Shing Village, Tuen Mun early this morning (5th). Yang Zhuying, director of the Pinghefang Center of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, pointed out that young people involved in gambling are on the rise, and since January 1, 2017, more than 80 cases have been received for help from 29 years of age or younger. Among them, football gambling is the main one. About 70% have the habit of betting on football matches and 30% have the habit of betting on horses. Among those seeking help, 17% had a suicide crisis, 60% had emotional distress or psychological stress, and more than 40% had problems with their family members. Yang also said that more than 40% of help seekers owed more than 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, and 1 adult owed 600,000 Hong Kong dollars or more. He pointed out: "Young gamblers owe debts more sharp and serious than expected. Ordinary people would not imagine. When you get a young man, you will bet for hundreds of thousands of debts."

Yang said that there are three main reasons why young people are addicted to gambling. First, they are influenced by their peers. Second, they are adventurous. Confidently, "Most of him like to play football, he feels that he has a vision, he has a special ability to analyze the game, and after he has won a few gambling, he will feel that he is lucky and able to make quick money." She urged young people to seek help as soon as possible if they find that they have problems with gambling disorders, including relying on gambling to solve financial problems, owing debts due to gambling, or worsening relationships with family members, and having no intention of going to work or school.

[TW]

賭波輸命：年輕賭徒趨升　逾4成欠債$10萬

22歲仔疑欠賭債，今日凌晨(5日)在屯門三聖邨墮斃。東華三院平和坊中心主任楊枬英指出 ，參與賭博年輕人有上升趨勢，單計29歲或以下的求助個案，由2017年1月1日至今已收到逾80宗，當中以賭波為主，約7成有賭波習慣，3成有賭馬習慣。求助者中，17%有自殺危機、6成有情緒困擾或心理壓力、4成多人與家人關係出現問題。楊又稱，逾4成求助者欠債逾10萬港元，有1成人更欠債60萬港元或以上，指出：「年輕賭徒欠債比想像中更犀利同嚴重，平常人係唔會想像到一個後生仔，賭到爭人幾十萬債」。

楊表示，年輕人沉迷賭博主要有3個原因，一是受朋輩影響；其次是有冒險精神，抱着以小博大心態，覺得「唔賭大啲就搵唔到大錢」；最後是對自己太有信心，「佢哋多數都鍾意踢波，覺得自己好有眼光，分析球賽有特別能力，當賭過贏過幾次之後，會覺得自己有賭運，有能力搵快錢」。她呼籲年輕人若發現自己有賭博失調問題，包括依賴賭博解決經濟問題、因賭博而欠債或與家人關係轉差、無心機上班或上學等，便應盡快求助。