Teenage gambling expert

Let’s say you’ve got a 17 year-old who’s gambling a bit more than he should. Would you tell him to stop gambling immediately? Offer to bank him in exchange for a cut of the profits? Well, two Singapore parents decided the best solution to their son’s gambling “problem” was to send him to a casino management seminar. Seriously.

From the Electric New Paper (as opposed to the Gas-powered Old Paper):

Among some 20 power players and long-sleeved executives was one teenager in a checked shirt and jeans.

They were all attending a seminar on casino management. The cost: $2,500.

The others included representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singapore Police Force, other government agencies and tertiary educational institutions.

So what was Jonathon Tai, 17, with his floppy brown-dyed hair, doing there?

SURPRISING
The three-day seminar, called Insights To Casino Management, began at the Tourism Academy on Sentosa yesterday. It was hardly where you would expect a teenager to spend many hours of his holiday time.

His answer was short but surprising.

His businessman dad and dentist mum sent him to the seminar, he said.

But why would they send him to a seminar dealing with issues involved in running a successful gaming enterprise, with topics such as the acquisition of the premium player, slot management and profit per square foot.

Jonathon said - a little sheepishly - that his parents signed him up to ‘instil in me a sense of responsibility about gambling’.

He said: ‘They want me to learn about gambling. They’re afraid that I may get addicted.’

Is he some big-time compulsive gambler then?

‘Of course not, although I do play at the casinos occasionally. I guess that’s why they’re worried. But I do feel out of place here,’ he said with a grin.

He said his parents sprang the surprise on him just a week ago.

‘I’m sure it’s also because I’ve expressed interest in the casino business before,’ he said.

‘They know I have the time now.

‘This will also broaden my life experience. It’s like learning a new language or instrument, it’s all about acquiring knowledge.’

His parents had earlier sent him for various courses, including cooking classes and language lessons.

Jonathon, a second-year medicine undergraduate at an Irish university, said he visits casinos there every few weeks. His favourite table game is poker.

He said he spends about 100 euros ($200) each time.

The most he ever lost at one sitting was about 500 euros - no small sum for an undergraduate.

His parents are paying for his studies.

He insists his studies come first, and he never gambles during his exams.

He goes to the casino with his friends about once a month during the school term and every week during the holidays.

‘Son, you have to attend a gambling seminar’

Tai says he’s not keen on a career in the gaming industry, but wants to focus on medicine, so he seems to be on the ball.

Note to Mr. and Mrs. Tai (and anyone else who wants to teach someone more about gambling and its history): if you really want your son to understand the casino industry, I’d like to modestly suggest an executive seminar conducted by this humble author. They are fully customized, interactive lecture/workshops that focus on the history of gambling and casinos. You could even invite some of his friends and make it into an all-day gambling history party of sorts. Contact me if you are interested.

As a matter of fact, if anyone out there needs a speaker on gambling, my schedule for the next few months is still relatively flexible. I’ve already got appearances scheduled from Oregon to Missouri, and travel is no problem.