The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday strongly denounced the widespread online gambling that has been authorized by the government, expressing deep concern over the potential dangers it poses, particularly the risk of gambling addiction among young people.
In a pastoral letter, CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said such activities can have detrimental effects on the youth, leading to serious social and personal issues.
“Goodbye studies. Goodbye decent jobs. Goodbye the hope of hardworking families,” he said. “And hello — hello to a whole generation of gambling addicts.”
“We are doomed — unless we wake up,” he said.
David was responding to a recent news report in which state gambling regulator Pagcor warned the public against illegal offshore gambling websites claiming to be licensed by the agency.
The Cardinal labeled online gambling as a “theater of the absurd” and accused officials of moral negligence in allowing widespread access to betting platforms.
In a statement, the Kalookan Cardinal expressed his concern that the government’s actions are endangering children and families by facilitating gambling addiction. He highlighted that the legalization of online gambling platforms, which are accessible around the clock, poses a significant risk, particularly to minors who can easily access these sites.
“Who needs to sneak into a high-end casino when the casino has been brought into every living room, every bedroom, every child’s pocket — right there on the glowing screen of a smartphone?” David said.
David criticized authorities for focusing on offshore gambling sites while ignoring the consequences of locally licensed platforms.
He also condemned celebrities and influencers for promoting gambling apps on social media, saying they “prostitute themselves for a fee” in service of “conscience-less billionaires.”
David expressed deep concern over the impact on Filipino families, especially children of overseas Filipino workers who may be using hard-earned remittances to gamble online.
In 2024, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, which proliferated under the previous administration.
David warned that unless the country urgently addresses the issue, it risks “sacrificing an entire generation on the altar of easy profit.”
