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23-10-2010, 06:38 AM
Can retirees have something more constructive to do? This is worrying....
Oct 23, 2010
the RETIREES
Killing time the expensive way
STRANGE as it may sound, Mr Tony Teo, 82, goes to the casino for the sake of his wife.
The retired human resource consultant says: 'She's also in her 80s and has a heart problem, so this helps to keep her occupied and take her mind off her medical problems.
'She likes playing the jackpot and it's a good form of relaxation and activity for her.'
The congenial octogenarian adds that they have visited casinos abroad.
The couple - who have two grown-up children - have annual memberships to the Resort World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands casinos, and have fun with the one-armed bandits at least three or four times a week.
'She plays the one- and two-cent slots, and will have a sleepless night if she loses more than $200, so that's her limit,' he says, laughing. 'My limit is $500 a day, and I play blackjack and stud poker as well. We play what we can afford.'
'We have our meals there, paid for by the points system and can spend the whole afternoon there. RWS has better food,' he says, echoing a point made by many casino-goers.
Like the Teos, retiree B.T. Tan, 75, goes to the RWS casino three or four times a week with his wife too. Their son paid for their annual memberships.
The former high-ranking civil servant says: 'If we go to Orchard Road to pass the time, we still spend money on food, shopping and transport, which adds up to about the same.
'Now is the time for me to enjoy life because how much more time do I have to live? My child gives me an allowance to play, but I usually stop after losing about $20 to $30. I play to kill time, not to gamble.'
The couple have made many friends at the casino, including a group of elderly folk from Medan, Indonesia. They discuss world affairs in their favourite spot - the couches near the jackpot machines.
Not all retirees, however, are recreational gamblers.
At 8.30pm on a Monday night at the RWS casino, Madam A.L. Lee, 66, has just finished changing her fifth $1,000 note for chips at the pontoon table.
'Today my luck is not very good. What to do,' she says as she places $300 worth of chips in her box, the biggest stake on the table. The other three players place bets of between $25 and $75.
The former hotel housekeeper, who has three children and three grandchildren, says she goes to the RWS casino about once a fortnight.
'I used to play about once a month in Genting and in Batam. My children know I gamble, but I don't tell them if I've lost too much,' says Madam Lee, who once lost $10,000 in a day.
'I'll come more often if I win. If I lose, I stay away. So far, I think I have lost more than I've won,' says the petite grandmother, who has an annual membership and spends five or six hours at the casino on each visit.
Madam Chow Ah Lin, 68, has been playing for many years in casinos in Cambodia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia. The mother of two once played for two days and two nights straight - without sleep - in a casino in Australia.
At the RWS casino, at 11am on a Wednesday, she lost $6,000 on different types of table games, such as blackjack and baccarat, after playing for nearly 24 hours. But Madam Chow, who used to own a car dealership, appears upbeat. 'I'm old, there's no need to be upset over such things,' she says in Mandarin.
She has visited the RWS casino four times since it opened and lost about $10,000. She plays using the allowance given by her two sons.
'I do not use my retirement savings to gamble, but sometimes, I draw money from my bank account that is meant for my daily expenses. Each time, I stop playing once I lose $10,000.'
Mr Charles Lee, senior counsellor at Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, says this group is especially vulnerable. 'At their age, loneliness is an issue because they are no longer working. They may also be experiencing the empty nest syndrome; their children have grown up and left home. They are going through the loss of a role - whether as a parent or an employee.'
If they do not have a strong network of friends or are not careful, they may risk losing their life savings at the casinos.
He advises retirees to lead an active life, and take up meaningful activities.
'Take part in activities organised by the People's Association or the community centres, make new friends at these places.
'Use the time to pursue hobbies you have neglected. You don't have to gamble with money.'
WONG KIM HOH
Oct 23, 2010
the RETIREES
Killing time the expensive way
STRANGE as it may sound, Mr Tony Teo, 82, goes to the casino for the sake of his wife.
The retired human resource consultant says: 'She's also in her 80s and has a heart problem, so this helps to keep her occupied and take her mind off her medical problems.
'She likes playing the jackpot and it's a good form of relaxation and activity for her.'
The congenial octogenarian adds that they have visited casinos abroad.
The couple - who have two grown-up children - have annual memberships to the Resort World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands casinos, and have fun with the one-armed bandits at least three or four times a week.
'She plays the one- and two-cent slots, and will have a sleepless night if she loses more than $200, so that's her limit,' he says, laughing. 'My limit is $500 a day, and I play blackjack and stud poker as well. We play what we can afford.'
'We have our meals there, paid for by the points system and can spend the whole afternoon there. RWS has better food,' he says, echoing a point made by many casino-goers.
Like the Teos, retiree B.T. Tan, 75, goes to the RWS casino three or four times a week with his wife too. Their son paid for their annual memberships.
The former high-ranking civil servant says: 'If we go to Orchard Road to pass the time, we still spend money on food, shopping and transport, which adds up to about the same.
'Now is the time for me to enjoy life because how much more time do I have to live? My child gives me an allowance to play, but I usually stop after losing about $20 to $30. I play to kill time, not to gamble.'
The couple have made many friends at the casino, including a group of elderly folk from Medan, Indonesia. They discuss world affairs in their favourite spot - the couches near the jackpot machines.
Not all retirees, however, are recreational gamblers.
At 8.30pm on a Monday night at the RWS casino, Madam A.L. Lee, 66, has just finished changing her fifth $1,000 note for chips at the pontoon table.
'Today my luck is not very good. What to do,' she says as she places $300 worth of chips in her box, the biggest stake on the table. The other three players place bets of between $25 and $75.
The former hotel housekeeper, who has three children and three grandchildren, says she goes to the RWS casino about once a fortnight.
'I used to play about once a month in Genting and in Batam. My children know I gamble, but I don't tell them if I've lost too much,' says Madam Lee, who once lost $10,000 in a day.
'I'll come more often if I win. If I lose, I stay away. So far, I think I have lost more than I've won,' says the petite grandmother, who has an annual membership and spends five or six hours at the casino on each visit.
Madam Chow Ah Lin, 68, has been playing for many years in casinos in Cambodia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia. The mother of two once played for two days and two nights straight - without sleep - in a casino in Australia.
At the RWS casino, at 11am on a Wednesday, she lost $6,000 on different types of table games, such as blackjack and baccarat, after playing for nearly 24 hours. But Madam Chow, who used to own a car dealership, appears upbeat. 'I'm old, there's no need to be upset over such things,' she says in Mandarin.
She has visited the RWS casino four times since it opened and lost about $10,000. She plays using the allowance given by her two sons.
'I do not use my retirement savings to gamble, but sometimes, I draw money from my bank account that is meant for my daily expenses. Each time, I stop playing once I lose $10,000.'
Mr Charles Lee, senior counsellor at Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, says this group is especially vulnerable. 'At their age, loneliness is an issue because they are no longer working. They may also be experiencing the empty nest syndrome; their children have grown up and left home. They are going through the loss of a role - whether as a parent or an employee.'
If they do not have a strong network of friends or are not careful, they may risk losing their life savings at the casinos.
He advises retirees to lead an active life, and take up meaningful activities.
'Take part in activities organised by the People's Association or the community centres, make new friends at these places.
'Use the time to pursue hobbies you have neglected. You don't have to gamble with money.'
WONG KIM HOH
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