'Gambling Almost Cost Me My Life'

Mother of three lived with the shameful secret of her addiction for 15 years

 

- Vincent Phahlane

ON the surface, Masego Kwenamore (41) is living a happy and fulfilled life. But things were not always rosy for the mother of three, who used to be addicted to gambling. For 15 years,

Masego struggled with the self-destructive behaviour that comes with being an addict.

HOW THE ADDICTION STARTED

 Masego says she had a fascination with winning money from a young age, thinking it would be the answer to her struggles.

“I started playing slot machines at the age of 24 in 1998 at a casino in Gauteng all because I saw someone winning the R1 million jackpot. I then told myself that when I got paid, I would try my luck, which I now regret,” says Masego, adding that it was one of the many bad decisions she will regret for the rest of her life.

She says one of the things that got her addicted to gambling was her self-esteem as she didn’t feel good about herself.

“I was so obsessed with gambling I even thought people at the casino knew me. One day I went to the casino wearing dark shades and something on my head so that they couldn’t recognise me. But the reality is that the people there didn’t even care if I lost or won,” she says.

GAMBLING COST HER HER MARRIAGE

She says her addiction to gambling got to a point where she couldn’t control herself and she sold her husband's car.