University students, who already live on a tight budget, fall into debt over bets on World Cup matches.
Going to pawnshop
They usually start off small. A student from Hanoi University of Business and Technology said, "University students don't have much money, so we just bet small items or amounts of money to make the game more interesting. I guess we are also trying to show our predictions skills."
Another student of HCM City Electric Power College said they would bet for meals. However, as the tournament continues, the stakes tend to go up.
The average bets on World Cup games have increased to something around VND2-3 million (USD95-142) per match. He said, "I wanted to earn some money to go out with my girlfriend but I lost. I keep betting though, borrowing from friends in order to make up for my losses." He went on to say that the surprising results of Spain's match, or the one between Italy and Costa Rica cost him a lot. In the end he had to pawn his cell phone and laptop to pay off his debts.
Mai, the owner of a convenience store said, "I'm not a professional in the matter, but I do know that most students who live here are poor. They are still into betting, though. They go to big shops to pawn their motorbikes and cell phones. They come to me when they want to pawn electric fans or rice cookers. There was one student who had to make an escape because he owed money to some bad people."
Some students even resort to using their tuition fees to bet on matches. Some of them feel the consequences when they are unable to take their exams.
Nguyen Le Tuan Khang, a student from Nha Trang City, lost a bet and persuaded his friend to rob a woman in order to pay back the money. Khang was caught and sentenced to two years of in prison. His friend was sentenced to one year.
