That's fascinating, and I mean that.  In the states, wakes are usually morbid affairs with lots of crying and no celebrating of life, which is what the living ought to be doing as well as mourning the deceased.  Might I inquire as to what country you are from?

Could be.  I assumed he's from somewhere in Asia, where gambling is much more acceptable than it is in the West.

I never gambled with any family member, but I don't see anything morally despicable about it as long as the family isn't addicted gamblers.  Were that the case, it could well be like a trailer trash family that smokes crack together and doesn't ever pay their bills.  Gambling can be fun and most people don't get hooked on it, just like most people do not get hooked on alcohol.  A lot do, but most do not.

When I was just under the legal drinking age, I ended up at a bar with my father where we were watching a band and we ended up drinking together.  At the time I felt very weird, almost guilty.  So I can understand why some posters are expressing similar thoughts about gambling with parents.  Looking back at my experience, however it was a bonding moment with my dad and nothing more.