There are many ways of becoming rich. A small number of people become wealthy through inheriting property and money from their parents, guardians of well-wishers. Such persons do not necessarily work for the wealth they receive. Unfortunately, not many people have the privilege of inheriting significant riches to transform their lives.
Betting on Hard Work and Stealing
Another group of people becomes wealthy by sheer hard work. This is the largest percentage of wealthy people. Most of them are businesspeople who invest their money in profitable niches. Some of them work in small businesses while others operate large enterprises with many employees.
Another strategy for getting rich is stealing. Yes. You heard it right. There are people who siphon money from their employers or financial institutions in the quest for riches. By now, you know that this type of wealth does not last. We can describe this type of riches as ‘easy come, easy go’. The outcome here is a miserable life, a life in prison or premature death.
The Shortcut to Wealth, or Is It?
Do not worry, though, there is a shortcut – gambling! Yes, you can place a bet of Ksh 20 and win Ksh 20 million! Such stories are in our newspapers and televisions every day. Don’t you admire the latest millionaires in town? Suddenly, they bid farewell to poverty and join the league of the rich and famous.
Why waste precious time slaving yourself with manual work when you can invest an insignificant amount of money and win the jackpot? You do not need early mornings and late evenings under the supervision of a demanding supervisor. There is no need of arguing with difficult customers and government officers asking for a license for your business.
Easy and Convenient Earnings?
What more! You continue betting from the comfort of your house using your mobile phone. With just a little data and money in you MPESA, millions are just a football game away. There you have it! Why remain poor when you can be rich without working hard! To quote a popular comedian, “Akili mtu wangu!” It’s all about brains!
Well, is that all there is to casino games, online betting, sports betting and other forms of gambling? Not really. Even as you eye the millions, you must realize there are many disadvantages of gambling. The millions will come (if they ever do) but the cost may be too high for you.
The Probability of Winning is Too Low
To begin with, you will be one among millions if you win on your first trial. Most winners will have spent hundreds of thousands, even millions of shillings, before they hit the jackpot. In fact, gambling firms do not spend their own money to reward winners. Your lost money and that of many other punters is enough to pay the winner (a very small percentage of the total collection) and retain millions as profit!
Then there is the addiction. Gambling enslaves you like a drug. If you don’t gamble for a day, for example, you feel depressed and only more gambling can satisfy your compulsive behaviour. In essence, gambling will control you. If you lack money for betting, you may end up pawning some of your personal property.
Dealing With Betting Addiction
Once you are finished selling your property to finance your gambling addiction, you will turn to family property. Petty theft will translate into serious robbery. The next thing you know you will be in jail, if not dead through mob justice. What started as a harmless leisure activity becomes a serious crime that can turn fatal.
To avoid all that, trust the process. Nothing comes easy. Get a job. Start a business. Work your way to riches. Shortcuts only lead to misery and regret. If you kept aside the money you intend to gamble with in a safe place for some months, it is likely to be enough to start a small business. The data bundles you use to bet could come in handy in performing online jobs that could earn your money.
Is Gambling a Blessing or a Curse?
Now that you know the pros and the cons, make a wise decision. To a lucky few, betting becomes a blessing for as long as the money lasts. To many, gambling is a futile attempt to get rich, a curse that drains personal finances and erodes self-dignity.
