SINGAPORE: In an alarming tale of addiction and desperation, a 35-year-old cybersecurity expert known only as Sow admitted to stealing from his daughter’s savings account to fund his growing addiction to illegal online gambling.

According to AsiaOne, despite losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, Sow’s obsession with betting remained unshaken, leading him down a destructive path that would almost destroy his family, career, and future.

His harrowing story is a wake-up call for anyone tempted by the allure of easy money in the digital gambling world.

Moment of no return

Sow’s spiral into gambling started at just 15 years old with small football bets, but by the age of 18, he was fully immersed in the world of illegal online gambling.

Lured by the promise of fast money and the temptation of betting with credit—“you only pay when you lose”—Sow quickly became hooked. He placed large bets on football, basketball, and ice hockey, with wagers sometimes as high as $5,000 on a single match.

However, the thrill of winning soon turned into the agony of loss. After years of mounting debt, Sow was willing to do anything to fund his addiction.

In one shocking act, he stole money from his daughter’s savings account. “I stole the money to top up my betting account,” he confessed.

His gambling habit had grown so consuming that he continued betting daily, even while at work or commuting. It was a clear sign that Sow had crossed a line from mere indulgence to full-blown addiction.

A rising crisis

Sow’s experience is part of a growing trend in Singapore, where illegal online gambling is becoming more prevalent.

A recent survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling revealed a worrying increase in the number of individuals gambling on illegal sites.

The percentage of people reporting they had gambled on these illegal platforms rose from 0.3% in 2020 to 1% in 2023.

While the overall rate of problem and pathological gambling remained steady, the rise of online gambling highlights the increasing vulnerabili...