Macau casino dealers are showing up in increasing numbers in the city’s problem gambling treatment programs.

According to Macau’s Social Welfare Bureau, last year saw 147 individuals sign on with the Central Registry System of Individuals with Gambling Disorder. Around 80% of these individuals reported owing gambling debts, with 60% owing debts of over MOP 100k (US $12,500) apiece.

Among the registrants who were employed, around one-fifth were employed as dealers or croupiers in the city’s casinos. One might have suspected that the countless costly losing streaks these dealers must have witnessed on the job would have deterred them from falling down the same well, but apparently one really does have to experience some things for oneself.

The Social Welfare Bureau’s report noted that half of the problem gamblers on its register were employed in shift work, while official data shows that 90% of Macau gaming staff are required to do shift work.