INVESTMENTS? WELL,MAY BE TO THE BETTING COMPANIES

By Eric kiogora

Why Can’t I Just Stop?

• How did this happen? I can’t believe all the trouble I'm in.
• If I stop betting now, I’ll have to admit I'm a total loser. There's no way I can pay back all the money I owe.
• If I had the money to invest, I'm sure my luck would change. I just need one more win.
• Even if I had another win, I'd probably just lose it again.
• I can't face this mess alone, but I'm too embarrassed to ask for help.
• I should be able to solve my own problems. How could I be so stupid?
• I never thought it would get this bad.

Do these statements sound familiar? Most people with gambling problems say they lost control over how much time and money they spend gambling. In Kenya for instance, sportpesa has been able to sponsor the Kenya premier league and make millions of profit courtesy of losers. Inspired by this success, other betting sites are cropping up. Bet in, bet yetu, bet way, just bet, betika name them but the effects of what we are breeding in society are clear for everyone to see. Here are some but, unfortunately affecting us university students directly:

•   The Kenyatta University student committed suicide on Wednesday, July 6, after losing KSh 80,000 during the Germany vs Italy Euro quarter final match.“He put KSh 40,000 on a Germany win and a similar amount on an Italy victory – both in normal time – but the match ended in a draw in that time,” Daily Nation reported.
•   Edwin Mogaka was a second year student in the Kabianga University till the day he committed suicide. It’s alleged that on the day of his death, the poor soul had put all ksh. 20,000 ($200) meant for tuition fees in a bet in favor of Chelsea.

Needless to point out that betting without winning is a total disaster but why can’t people get themselves out of this mess. The very simple answer to this is that betting is addictive. You bet today, you lose then you live in self denial that you are not a loser and that you stand a chance of winning in the following bet where you put even a higher stake. In fact, one addicted bettor told me that the only way he would stop betting is may be when he has got no money! Many people who bet excessively have mixed feelings about betting. They know they are causing problems for the people they love. They may become anxious and unhappy, and often hate themselves. But the urge to bet seems too great to resist. They feel they can’t give up on all the time, money and emotion they have put into betting. They can’t accept that they will never win back what they have lost. Some people still believe their system will pay off, their luck will change or they are due to win. Others believe that continuing to bet is the only way out of a situation they are ashamed about.  Of course there are winners, and or even jackpot winners, which cannot be denied but what proportion of bettors, are these winners?

Everything has its positive and negative effects; even betting has its positive impact not only to people but to an economy as well. I personally believe everything has its own good, as long as it is done moderately. It is not bad to bet or go to casinos if it can do you good, but always remember to have discipline and control. Always set limitations in everything you do.