#SHOWBIZ: Mark Lee opens up about gambling debt and how his mother saved him

Singaporean actor and singer Mark Lee recently discussed his decades-long gambling addiction and the pivotal moment that led him to quit on the latest episode of Jeanette Aw's talk show, JA Unscripted. The 57-year-old artiste revealed how his obsession with football betting and the 4D lottery spiraled out of control while filming a variety show in 1996.

Lee explained that despite having successful businesses at the time, he would spend up to S$5,000 (RM15,690) a month on lottery tickets and hundreds more on football matches. Even after previously winning over S$100,000 (RM317,850), his gambling habit continued to escalate. He described gambling as a strange phenomenon that lets you win initially but eventually leaves you with a "black eye" that refuses to heal.

As his gambling problem worsened, friends and colleagues, including director Jack Neo, attempted to intervene, but Lee disregarded their warnings. It wasn't until a quiet, unspoken conversation with his mother that the turning point occurred. Lee recounted how his mother was sitting in the living room, reading the newspaper without flipping the pages, and not expressing her thoughts directly. Realizing that his mother's future depended on him, Lee knew he had to make a change.

Kicking the gambling habit proved to be a challenging six-month process. To avoid temptation, Lee stopped looking at sports results and lottery numbers, even on roadside news kiosks. He negotiated with creditors to pay off his debts in manageable installments while taking on any available work to repay his obligations. Lee shared that once he paid off his debts, "Everything had colour again," and he felt more motivated and energetic.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Lee views it as a crucial life lesson. He acknowledged that his experiences, including the ease of having made a lot of money and then starting to gamble, shaped who he is today. He emphasized the importance of taking things easier.