By Charlene L. Arendaying/Intern
Too good to be true. That was the first thought that came to mind when I first encountered online gambling.
“Low stakes, high prizes!” This is the message that repeatedly appears in your social media feed, often accompanied by viral influencers who play these games on streaming platforms. The way these individuals hit “jackpots” with ease has been raising eyebrows and has rightfully been flagged as suspicious.
Then I was reminded of a film I watched a few months ago. The Chinese movie No More Bets offers a glimpse into how these online gambling apps operate behind the scenes. One scene that horrified me showed the character Gu Tianzhi being lured deeper and deeper into gambling addiction until he hit rock bottom. The contrast between the scammers celebrating after successfully draining him of his money and Gu ultimately choosing to leap into the void in desperation was haunting.
However, more chilling than the violence and crime portrayed on screen is the fact that these scenes are based on real-life stories. This is not a product of someone’s imagination, it reflects the tragic reality of many people’s lives.
Although exposés similar to the movie remain few and far between, disturbing stories of families and friendships being torn apart by online gambling are becoming increasingly common on the internet, as more people fall victim to these so-called “easy money” schemes.
As the damage to Filipino households becomes more visible, the government has finally taken action. On July 8, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that it will begin regulating billboard advertisements promoting online gambling. They also revealed plans to partner with the Seagulls Flock Organization, a non-profit dedicated to helping individuals recover from gambling addiction.
As the saying goes: “Prevention is better than cure.” It is far more effective to address the root causes of the problem than to offer remedies after the fact. With many employees struggling to make ends meet, gambling may seem like a tempting escape: a chance to win quick cash and rise above poverty.
At this point, we should not place all the blame on the players. Instead, we must examine and hold accountable the system that lures them into this dangerous cycle — a system that turns desperation into profit.
