“You might as well legalize other addictions,” says CBCP president on online gambling.
A Catholic church in the Philippines is once again demanding a complete ban on the online gambling scene, arguing that it causes moral dilemmas and other societal harm, despite the lucrative revenue it brings with it.
The Philippine government has been actively combating any and every gambling-related nuisance this past year to make it seem like a more ethically viable source of revenue. Recently, the Cebu city in the Philippines proposed a resolution to ban online gambling sites and VPN access over the government network.
This latest proposition, however, is somewhat aberrant and raises questions about the mere existence of online casino games in the Philippines. Here is what's happening with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Related articles
“You might as well legalize other addictions,” CBCP president on online gambling
As reported by the Philippine news outlet, Inquirer, the Catholic Church boldly voiced its opinion on online gambling and why it should receive a complete ban in the country.
Speaking at the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization in Manila, Cardinal Pablo Virgilo David, president of the CBCP, talked at length on the adverse effects of online gambling on youths, calling it “modern-day slavery.”
Cardinal David also talked about Pagcor’s response to CBCP’s July 7 pastoral letter and the lengths it went to defend online gambling and the healthy revenue it generates.
As per Pagcor’s report, the Philippine government earns over P100 billion from online gambling, which is no small feat. Additionally, the casino and gambling business provides jobs directly to over 32,000 people.
David, however, remained unfazed by the core functioning and output of online gambling in the country. He argued by saying, “Just legalize shabu [crystal meth]. In that way, the government will still earn. Just legalize all other sources of addiction for Filipinos.”
The president of the CBCP didn’t stop there. He further went on to discuss the impact of gambling debts and how they can divide families.
“How many families have been destroyed by gambling debts? How many young people spend hours scrolling, seeking validation in likes and shares, losing the capacity to be present, and losing even their social skills to build natural friendships? We are all vulnerable to it,” he added.
The Philippine government is taking measures to safeguard and control online gambling, such as by launching the PAGCOR portal that allows users direct access to licensed casinos, as well as reducing the GGN tax to encourage legalization.
David, however, argues that additional enforcement can’t prevent youth from accessing online gambling in this digital age. “Do you really believe that you can control digital natives from the way they access any application online? I do not know if that’s possible,” he concluded.
President Marcos has yet to address the issue, though the Malacañang Palace is reviewing all the issues surrounding online gambling.
Interestingly, a survey by The Fourth Wall, as reported by the Inquirer, indicates that 75% of online gambling players believe that a ban won’t put a stop to this activity, and instead lead to an increased dependence on unlicensed and illegal gambling sites and operators.
For more betting content, stick around on esports.gg.
