Sammo Hung Reveals Past Gambling Addiction, Admits to Million-Dollar Bets on Golf

(Hong Kong, 21st) Martial arts legend Sammo Hung, now 74, has in recent years relied on a wheelchair, though his health has gradually stabilized under the care of his family. Earlier this month, netizens even spotted him in mainland China looking rosy and energetic, reassuring fans.

Recently, a lesser-known chapter of his past resurfaced. Hong Kong actor You-Nam Wong revealed in an interview that Hung once personally warned him not to fall into gambling, showing both his bold personality and his concern for younger generations.

According to reports, Wong recalled his time filming Ip Man, where Hung served as the action director. One day, he was suddenly told that “Big Brother wants to see you,” leaving him nervous as he approached the meeting.

Hung first encouraged him, saying, “Keep it up, you’re doing well.” But he then added seriously, “There’s one thing you must remember—never get addicted to gambling like I did. We both come from hard paths, so keep working hard. You can do it.”

Wong believed Hung was worried that he might squander his hard-earned money, which prompted the advice.

When asked about his own past, Hung openly admitted his heavy gambling habits: “I gambled on everything. While filming, I had two monitors—one for the set, one for horse racing.” He even bet while playing golf, with wagers reaching hundreds of thousands.

Although he didn’t specify exactly when this phase occurred, Hung once mentioned that during the filming of Heart of Dragon in 1985—where he was director, action choreographer, and lead actor—he earned only HKD 4 million, highlighting how significant his gambling stakes were.

He also revealed that gambling made him extremely short-tempered, often directing his frustration at himself. During family mahjong games, he would lose his temper and even throw the tiles into the toilet; while gambling on golf, he once tossed his entire set of clubs into a lake after losing.

These stories reflect Hung’s fiery personality in his younger days, while also highlighting his sincere advice to the next generation.