This article first appeared in the Sep/Oct 2011 issue of World Gaming magazine.
Highly experienced Chinese casino player Harry-Lee Dong Wu explains why the Chinese are such passionate players of casino and gambling games.
I have been to many casinos of various sizes around the world. No matter which casino I walk in to, I always see Chinese. We are very passionate about gaming, and enjoy its pleasures. You often see us Chinese with various emotions on our faces: anticipation, excitement, elation, anxiety, depression, helplessness and so on.
Of course the love of betting is not uniquely Chinese, but it has a long history in China. The earliest record of Chinese gaming appears in the Shang Dynasty, referring to the game of liu bo (literally ‘six gaming’). This game prevailed during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period (that is from 770 BC to 221 BC). Liu bo is similar to the ‘fight chess’ game, in which six pieces fight with one another on a simple chessboard, and dice are used to control the progress of the fight. The game is a combination of skill and luck. Many intellectuals and poets have shared their feelings about liu bo. Our revered poet Li Bai seems to be particularly fond of liu bo, as there are references to liu bo in at least three of his well-known poems.
We can see gambling has existed in China for a long time, and has a strong following among Chinese people. Chinese people love to play, but if you use the word ‘greed’ to describe their enthusiasm it is probably too extreme or simplified. Since ancient times, Chinese people have considered themselves as God’s favourite children with some kind of ‘special place’ in the world. They believe in destiny and believe that man proposes but God disposes. By that I mean that while man might strive to achieve a goal, it is ‘luck’, destiny, fate or ‘the Gods’ that ultimately decide whether that goal will be achieved. Gambling games directly connect every player with destiny, and this destiny shows itself in the games. If destiny favours you, celebrate and enjoy it. If it is against you, just shrug your shoulders and move on.
However, gambling seems to be a word with negative connotations in the Chinese vocabulary. There are some historical reasons for this. The earliest gambling activities were entertainment only for those in power. If ordinary people engaged in those activities, it was considered as overstepping one’s boundaries. When casinos first appeared, it was usually because of the perception of great profits to those running the games. Therefore those in power were granted exclusivity to operate in this industry, and any small venues established by ordinary people were strictly prohibited.
Actually, gambling is not as mysterious as people think. It is simply an element of the entertainment industry. There is nothing wrong with gambling if you do so within your limits. Remember not to be greedy and play in an affordable manner. A healthy attitude towards gambling puts entertainment before everything else.
At the foot of the Kingdom of Heaven, there is this place called Macau. God’s favoured ones, I hope you can find lots of fun here.
