VTV24’s investigative report
The fish shooting game – an electronic game once promoted as “healthy entertainment” is increasingly revealing its dangerous dark side. From a simple form of entertainment, fish shooting has gradually transformed into a disguised gambling game, leaving many people penniless and in debt.
The Machine Owner Always Holds the Handle
With just a small control device, the machine owner can change the score, adjust the player’s win – loss as desired. Some devices are also remote-controlled, just by observing and pressing a button, they can “lock the explosion”, “suck coins” without the player knowing.
Players Lose Their Entire Fortune
The case of Ms. Trang in Lao Cai is a heartbreaking example. Losing nearly 100 million VND playing fish shooting, she had to sell her motorbike – her means of earning a living – to pay off the debt. Still not enough, she sold three buffaloes – the last asset in the house. However, the debt was still there.
“The more I played, the more I lost, but the shop owner sweetly offered me ‘play to recover’. In the end, I couldn’t recover and the debt became even heavier,” Trang shared in tears.
Family and Social Consequences
Many people, after losing money playing fish shooting, beat up machines and even vandalized the shop. Some people feel humiliated, lose face with their children, and feel that they are no longer valuable to their family.
“My child doesn’t want to say hello when I come home because he knows I lost money. I feel like I am no longer a real father,” another fish shooting player said with a sob.
The Government Has Difficulty Handling the Case
Although many provinces such as Lam Dong have destroyed hundreds of fish shooting machines, the situation continues in many localities such as Lao Cai. The reason is that the legal system is still unclear, lacking specific regulations and strict supervision.
Authorities are confused because they have not clearly distinguished between electronic games and disguised forms of gambling.
Conclusion
Fish shooting games are not a “chance to change your life” but are becoming a “trap of total loss”. This game is making the poor more miserable because of the illusion of getting back their money. Be alert, do not let yourself and your family fall into the vortex of gambling disguised as “fish shooting for rewards”.
Reportage made by VTV24