It has been shocking to witness some villagers indulge in gambling during the Spring Festival holiday. It is a very bad but prevailing custom. Gambling is a chronic disease in urgent need of a cure, says an article on gmw.cn. Excerpts:

The Chinese New Year is traditionally a holiday for family reunions. Family members, who have spent a tiring year working hard, return to their hometown with the fruits of their labor. It is normal for them to use this money to organize recreational activities with their families, but gambling should not be an option.

Gambling will not only swallow one's money but also corrupt hearts and souls. The government used to ban such corrupt customs, but in recent years, there seems to have been a resurgence of gambling. Gambling has increased as people's living standards have improved.

Some spend a large sum of money to gamble just for face; once they have lost some money then they bet more in the next round in an attempt to recover their loss. Most of the time they will simply keep losing money and even resort to usury. Their gambling eventually costs them not only money, but also their family happiness.

Joint efforts are needed to call a halt to the prevalence of gambling in rural areas. Grassroots Party organizations should play their role in publicizing its ills. The police should also crack down on villagers' gambling. Homecoming migrant workers should value their fruits of labor and avoid gambling during the holidays.

(China Daily 02/21/2013 page9)