Published in its print edition on July 12 – 18, 2025
THE moral fiber caused by the online gambling—whether legal or illegal—is demeaning or degrading to the Philippine society.
As the killings cropped up about the missing cockfight aficionados who are involved in online betting, the complex problem brought by the gambling platforms emanates from an addiction.
Far from reality, the game by chance can only be short-lived due to quick wins and excitement at some point but, in the long run, leads to sadness, extreme poverty, crimes, and depression.
While it is true that the government is earning much revenue from legal gambling with the P154-billion income last year alone, the cause of the social malady kicks in.
Even the government-owned-and-controlled-corporation, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is amenable to the social cost. For them, there is a need for stricter regulations such as alleviating gambling advertisements to curb addiction.
While a ban on online gambling is appropriate due to social implication, legal gambling should be given a leeway due to revenues generated from these activities.
Hence, a focus on illegal and unlicensed gambling platforms and companies must be the done, aside from enforcing existing regulations on online gambling. #
