Young people should play far away from gambling.
Gambling is bad and we have to do something about it.
It’s disturbing to see young boys and girls in villages, squatter camps and townships playing a game of dice or card games, for example, not for leisure but to earn a couple of bucks.
This informal form of gambling, and its resultant addiction, often feeds into formal gambling habits in glitzy establishments such as casinos, where people lose a great deal of their hard-earned money.
It’s disheartening to see young people gathering in groups in the street playing these games.
Many young boys have died in fights sparked by disagreements in these informal gambling dens.
This should be a cause for concern for our communities.
Gambling addiction can have serious consequences, ranging from stealing to deceiving their parents to feed their habits.
Young people should stop gambling with their future.
They must instead focus on their studies.
- Nelson Kgatla, Pretoria North
