It takes 3 days to learn a vice...

I was on duty at the Career & Education 2009 exhibition fair at Suntec yesterday evening. Being second day of the fair, the crowd was understandably thinner than the much publicised 120 000 visitors on its opening day on Thursday.

Interestingly, the booths that garnered the most responses were the Integrated Resorts - Marina Bay Sands and Resort World at Sentosa. Attractively decked out with casino gaming tables to boot, these booths did indeed command a second look. Even exhibitors like us could not keep our curiosity in rein.

At the gaming table, the dealer smoothly dealt the cards. Chips were offered to bystanders who wanted to have a go at the game. I do not know how I ended up with a place at the table and was astounded when dealer looked at me and asked if I wanted a card to follow.

Huh? I went all red and turned around to see if he was speaking to the person behind me. My colleague nudged me and whispered "You have 16 points. Want another card or stay this way?" Huh? Huh? What game is this? Twenty one? Oh, I see.

Actually, I did not see. I was confused because I'm no gambler. I didn't even know how 4D or Toto worked until they were explained to me. I guess I'm one of those who has to live by the sweat of my brow and not depend on windfalls or any other chance money-making opportunity.

However, it did not take me long to get the hang of the game. It was really fun because we were playing with mere chips, not real money. I won a few times but lost many more times over. The Chinese saying came to mind: It takes 3 years to learn to be good but only 3 days to learn vices. Well, it took me only 10 minutes to learn the game. But it was all for fun and experience. No money was used so I was not technically gambling and it is unlikely I will be found at that table again.

The game blackjack has been described as a game of chance with elements of skill and the thrill of playing your hand individually against the dealer while in group setting. To win, you need to beat the dealer without busting. You bust when your cards total to more than 21 and you lose automatically. The winner is whoever has closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the cards.

It can be very addictive as I had experienced. If one is on a roll, he might want to continue the winning streak. The appetite grows, the bets get bigger. If he is losing, he might want to recoup his losses because surely, the cards will get better? This is probably how compulsive gamblers lose everything they have, including their homes and families in the hope of a better card.

The IRs can be good for our economy judging by the tens of thousands of jobs created and the revenue each tourist dollar will bring. Our government has assured us on its thorough research into the project and how a slew of social safeguards and the National Council on Gambling will be set up. The control measures put in place will be self-righting and the damage, if any, will be minimal. Time will tell. Let's hope moral values and social order will not be largely eroded in time to come.

As for me, I will continue to be 'blur' in the gambling arena. Someone has asked me to learn mahjong as it has been said to prevent dementia in old age. Er, thanks but no thanks. I think I'd rather do cross-word puzzles or blog or even attempt primary school math problem sums. Now, that would really stave off idleness and inactivity!