Showgirls and loansharks not included.I was at the Toys ‘R’ Us outlet at Vivocity, when I spotted this little gem.
I find this item to be completely inappropriate. Especially in a store that primarily targets young children. I know that the Integrated Resorts are about to be completed in Singapore, but this is ridiculous!
With the Singaporean government’s drive to curb problem gambling, you’d think that Toys ‘R’ Us would exercise some discretion in their inventory selection. Problem gambling is a serious psychological problem. Should we really be exposing children to gambling?
When I was 14-years old, I had a friend who was a problem gambler. Like me, he was also 14-years old and a prefect at St Gabriel’s Secondary. He loved football. But if there was one thing he loved more than football, it was betting on football, primarily the English Premier League.
He did not come from a well-to-do family. He worked at a coffee shop in order to feed his gambling addiction. His hard-earned money went into soccer bets. He would up to $1000 a match, a tidy sum for a 14-year old.
He won big and lost big. When he lost big, his consolation was that his soccer coach lost even more money. In hindsight, I realize that his soccer coach was his enabler and cognitive dissonance. He was able to justify his actions based on his coach’s big wins and losses.
But he eventually hit a losing streak. He eventually had no money for food. He asked me for a loan. As disgusted as I was with him, I relented. I couldn’t bear to see a friend go hungry.
Eventually, when it came time to pay me back, he stalled. He was more concerned with using his meager salary to place more bets. It put a huge strain on our relationship.
After he paid me what he owed, I broke off all contact with him. His addiction had consumed him. Even though I was only 14-years old at the time, it was clear to me that he had a problem.
Hey kids! Gambling is fun!
The next time I see someone with a gambling problem, I can’t help but wonder if Geoffrey the Giraffe is partly responsible. Nice one Toys ‘R’ Us.
