Singaporean singer Wang Lei lately shared his regrets gambling away the money meant for his mom’s cancer treatment.
In a behind-the-scenes video for The twentieth Floor – a track elevating consciousness on the risks of gambling carried out by Malaysian artiste Namewee that includes Wang Lei – the 61-year-old singer claimed that gambling had made him “inhumane to the best degree”.
“If I may flip again time and begin over, I’ll by no means return to gambling. My mom was cancer-stricken and I stole her medical charges to gamble. I nonetheless cannot settle for that (even until in the present day),” Wang Lei mentioned within the video.
The getai performer beforehand got here clear about stealing his mom’s cancer treatment money in a Facebook video posted by Singapore’s National Council On Problem Gambling (NCPG) in 2016.
In the video uploaded, Wang Lei revealed that he stole S$2,000 (RM6,630) value of medical funds.
“My mom was mendacity on a hospital mattress and I nonetheless had the guts to gamble. I misplaced all sense of time gambling till my brother known as me, telling me that my mom was dying and that I ought to go to the hospital proper away.
“On the best way, I took out my pockets and all I had left was S$24 (RM79). That was all that is disregarded of the S$2,000 I stole,” he mentioned tearfully, including that when he arrived on the hospital, his mom had already handed away.
Refusing to smash his life additional, Wang Lei urged everybody to remain away from gambling.
“Most individuals suppose that small bets are enjoyable and innocent, however when it turns into a behavior and the stakes go increased, you’ll finally get addicted and change into a compulsive gambler.
“If your pal says, ‘Hey, I gained hundreds of {dollars}’, allow them to be. Don’t put them on a pedestal as a result of on the finish of the day, it is your loved ones who will likely be there for you, not your mates,” he mentioned in Namewee’s video.
Wang Lei was as soon as in severe debt after changing into hooked on gambling. According to stories, the artiste racked up S$300,000 in gambling money owed and was the goal of 11 mortgage sharks.
In 1999, the singer misplaced S$230,000 in three days after gambling away all his money proceeds from promoting his flat.
It was not till 2004 that Wang Lei determined to give up gambling. But it was no simple journey as he would often go to casinos and gambling dens.
After his long-time gambler pal handed away in 2013, the singer was decided to give up as soon as and for all.
After receiving assist from his spouse, Wang Lei lastly grew to become debt-free in 2015.
