Is online gambling a health crisis? Bishops in the Philippines concerned

Catholic Bishops in the Philippines say online gambling has become a new plague or virus that is destroying families, and even causing a kind of slavery. While illegal gambling has always existed in the shadows of society, this new crisis takes place in the smartphones of anyone, including children. The cure to this plague needs to come from every level of society, including at the parish level:

Msgr Pedro Quitorio: “It’s become a sickness. With all these addictions, people, children, teenagers are becoming, you know… some, some we hear news of taking their lives because of this, so much debt.”

Faith Full is a Catholic podcast hosted by Tony Ganzer. In this episode we hear from Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, the Director of the Media Office for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

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Today we will learn about the heated issue of online gambling in the Philippines, and what lessons Catholics anywhere might learn from the example there, especially with the rise of online casinos and sports betting in places like the US. To be clear, the Church doesn’t say all gambling is wrong or sinful–not at all. But when addiction takes over lives, then the hands and feet of Christ on earth need to be mobilized.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio: “This has become a very strong part now of our new evangelization. It's a matter of, you know, putting the faith in context now, concretely, by the way people move, because this is affecting even, even our faith, even how we practice our faith.”

In some corners of the internet or even on TV, it can seem impossible to avoid gambling ads. In the US at least, online sports betting has exploded as states have moved to regulate it more, and capture potential tax revenue.

Or some social media influencers will stream high-stakes online slot machine sessions, and win seemingly astronomical amounts. Clips of these wins then sell the dream of winning big. Maybe these people are winning, or maybe these companies offer influencers money to promote the site. Having access to gambling of all sorts from the safety of your smartphone is as convenient as it can be risky, especially for impressionable kids. The Philippines is a country that is generally very Catholic, and very online, especially on social media.

The explosion of online gambling just this year has spiraled into a crisis leading the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to sound the alarm and call for action from the government and the faithful. One of the most troubling issues has been children’s ability to access e-wallets, which can ensnare children and their families in debt.

After all, this is big business and e-games or e-bingo were the biggest chunk of gross gambling revenue in the first quarter of the year at 51.39 billion Philippine Pesos, or nearly 900 million US dollars.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said this problem has gotten much worse in just the last year, the last months really, and the reactions are coming just as fast. Since this interview, the Philippines Central Bank ordered e-wallets to be decoupled from online gambling, and the issue has been discussed in the media, by lawmakers, and the president. In listing recommendations though, the Catholic Bishops also called on Catholics to actively help people affected by gambling, which may give some food for thought no matter where you’re watching or listening to this from.