Flasher

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Mahjong: Hobby or Gambling

There has been a highlight in recent newspaper article that 11 men were caught in the act of gambling ie playing mahjong. What is the definition of gambling?

Gambling (or betting) is any behavior involving risking money or valuables (making a wager or placing a stake) on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity depends partially or totally upon chance or upon one's ability to do something.

the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)

The definition itself is so vague that it almost covers our daily lives. Investing in the stock market, doing business, children playing board games ie monopoly, etc... All these acts involves risking something to gain more. All these depend on the perspective of the parties looking at it. Those players involved sees them as a hobby thus using the chips as a means to keep track of who's actually better or ahead. In the game of Monopoly, each player is given a predetermined set of 'currency' and as the game progresses, they will try to accumulate more wealth by buying property thus hoping opponents will land on their land. Isn't this a risk? These currency to me is similar to those of the mahjongs.

Does the term gambling applies to only adults gathering together doing the things that they like? If a couple of adults gather around to play Monopoly gambling or just a hobby? Who knows, they might be gambling with real money when the game ends!!! Mahjong has been around for centuries and has been played as a hobby since day 1.

Every game invented by mankind can be seen as an act of gambling. How so? Would someone play games without any winners/losers. If there is, what's the point in playing multiplayer games? Some would say its self satisfaction but would someone be satisfied when they lose? All I can see is that the point of playing games and keeping track of who's winning gives everyone a sense of challenge and also to the victor bragging rights of how good he/she is.