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The
New Paper, 5 Apr 04
Galloping granny, 80, goes gambling alone
her friends call her 'du gui' or addict
By Joyce Lim
CALL her a 'du gui' (Mandarin for gambling addict) if you like. This
80-year-old granny does not care and is used to that label. After
all, that's what she's known to her friends.
Madam Theresa Wan was candid when approached about her gambling habit.
Speaking in Mandarin to The New Paper On Sunday, she said she goes
to the casinos in Genting Highlands almost every week. Her first trip
to Casino de Genting was back in the early '70s. She was then in her
early 50s, said Madam Wan, who has never been to any other casinos
except those in Genting Highlands. She could not remember how much
money she has lost or won in the last 20 years. But she said most
of the time it was 'shi du jiu shu', meaning, out of 10 rounds, she
would lose nine.
I met and interviewed Madam Wan outside Casino de Genting last Saturday.
Madam Wan, who walks slowly and with a slight limp, had taken a coach
from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur that day. She was returning to Kuala
Lumpur after spending a week with one of her sons who lives and works
in Singapore. Madam Wan has nine children and more than 10 grandchildren.
Her wrinkled face looked tired after the journey.
But the moment Madam Wan stepped into the casino, she lost all signs
of fatigue. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. It had been a six-hour
coach ride from Singapore to KL, where she had to make her way to
the cable car half way up the hill to Genting. 'I'm used to long coach
rides,' said the feisty grandmother. 'During the week, I'll be visiting
my children in Malaysia or Singapore. Come the weekend, I'll be in
the casino in Genting.' Madam Wan described herself as a habitual
gambler, but insisted that she never bets more than RM2,000 (about
$880). 'I'm only a low-roller,' she said. 'The most I've ever won
in one trip was about RM8,000 to RM10,000. 'But I never lose more
than RM2,000 or resort to borrowing money from loansharks. 'I used
to go to Genting with a group of four or five friends. 'But they've
lost too much and they're now all scared of the place.'
She recalled her first trip to Genting Highlands with her friends.
'At that time, I didn't know how to gamble, so I watched my friends
put their stakes on the table. 'When they won, I felt very envious.
So I exchanged RM100 of chips and tried my luck. I won a few hundred
dollars that day. 'After my first trip, I thought about the casino
all the time. I wanted to try my hand at all the other games. 'So
I came here again the following weekend and the next. 'I was attracted
to the casino like a strong magnet.' From her home in KL, she would
take a taxi to Genting Highlands. The cab fare usually costs between
RM50 and RM80.
When this reporter asked to take her picture, she was game, saying
she didn't care what other people thought of her. But, after some
thought, Madam Wan said she did not want her face shown clearly in
the photograph. She said: 'One of my daughters-in-law doesn't like
me gambling. I don't want to upset her with my picture appearing in
the newspapers.' Madam Wan explained that she does not want to affect
her children's reputation. Some of them are well-to-do lawyers, doctors
and accountants. 'My youngest son, who is now 40, is living in the
US with his family. 'I have two sons living in the US, one in Australia
and another in Singapore. My four daughters and another son live in
different parts in Malaysia. 'My oldest son is already 56,' said Madam
Wan.
'During the week, I visit my children who are in Singapore and Malaysia.'
Her children give her a few thousand dollars every two or three months,
she added. 'There's no fixed amount and they give to me as and when
they want to,' said Madam Wan, who otherwise leads a thrifty life.
'I don't have any other expenses. 'When I visit my children, there'll
be food in their homes. 'I don't count how much money I have and I
have no savings.' Even though the odds are usually against her, she
said: 'As long as I have a few hundred dollars in hand, I will make
my way to the casino.' |
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