“Get rich quick! Win up to 2 million pesos! Go for the gold!”
These are just some of the many catchphrases that entice people into the dark underbelly of the gambling scene. With the rise of technology today, online gambling has drawn in many Filipinos, especially the youth.
Online gambling sites and apps such as BingoPlus and Bet88 have lured young users into a trap that feeds their curiosity and indulgence, draining them until they run dry.
In simple terms, many Filipinos turn to online gambling in hopes of striking gold as quickly as possible.
The “gold” experience
I’ve asked my peers about their experience with online gambling, and their reception is what you’ve expect. One colleague of mine said that he tried to do that once, and it affected his GCash balance so much that he refuses to do it again.
“Uncertain kasi manalo diyan. The house always wins (The winnings are uncertain. The house always wins),” he added. Another colleague of mine had it worse. “The most I lost in an online gamble is like more than ten thousand pesos,” he said.
So why the title “Gambling gold” then? Yes, I am aware that it evokes positive emotions, thus, the presented testimonies that I’ve presented may come off as misleading.
Here’s the thing – how people react to online gambling is a mix of emotions, both positive and negative.
Some people truly felt they had the golden experience, especially when they win in bets and bringing home tons of cash. Others felt dejected, feeling that the whole system rejected them or left them to rot in poverty as they lose all the money they have, drowning themselves in debt.
One thing’s for certain – regardless of whether or not they react positively or negatively, one thing they cannot get back, and risked their lives as well, is money.
A gambler’s libido
Once you get into their system and delve too deeply into it, there’s a slim chance of getting out of it alive, and a big chance that it will break you both physically and mentally. (Those who’ve watched James Bond movies like Casino Royale would know what I mean.)
Eight months ago, a Reddit user vented his ire on another user about his experience with online gambling. A year prior to his post, he began to indulge himself into the world of online gambling, as he was surrounded by people who were always playing. He asked a friend for the link she uses, and gave it a try.
Initially, he played in small amounts – around 300 to 700 pesos – thinking that it was just for fun. Eventually, it became a nightly habit, not noticing how much it was affecting him at that time.
One night, he had his first big win, and he was overjoyed, further driving the “gambler’s libido” within him. As time passes by however, this feeling of constant satisfaction turned into constant loss and suffering. He knew that it is taking a toll on him, but around that time, it was too late.
The men who sold their souls
Mae (real name unknown), a then 25-year old woman, once said in an interview conducted by Aglibot, Gabieta, Udtohan and Jaucian of the Philippine Daily Inquirer:
“I sold my soul to the devil.”
Mae was a resident of San Antonio, Zambales. In the interview, she recounted how a simple, fun way to pass the time gradually turned into an uncontrollable habit.
Her eyes fixated to her phone’s screen and continuously swiping it with her fingers, she neglected household chores and daily tasks, as well as spending less time with her family. It is as if she was drugged, being put in a constant state of dopamine rush.
A year prior to the interview, she was enticed to an online casino game called Scatter, with promises of granting her instant money. While she initially won 15,000 pesos, over time she begins to lose more than she wins. It reached to the point that her debt skyrocketed to around 100,000 pesos, which finally convinced her enough to end her “gold rush” once and for all.
Another person, named Herbert, also fell victim to the trap with false promises. He resided in Barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City, and he was enticed with games such as Pula Puti, Color Game, and Baccarat. He struck gold when he experienced a winning streak playing Bingo Plus slots.
“At first, I was winning big. There was this one slot machine that gave huge rewards. But every time I won, I ended up spending everything back and adding more money.”
He spent close to 50,000 pesos, and he still keeps on losing. Despite this, he pushed on, this time with smaller bets from 5 to 10 pesos. Unfortunately, not only did it ruin his financial status, but it also strained his relationship with his family.
There are many stories of Filipinos who sold their souls to the devil that is online gambling, even as young as 15 years old. This has been going on for years now, and with the rise of digital content, it’s never been so easy to sell themselves to the corrupted system.
Advertisements of online gambling sites and apps like Bingo Plus continued to be plastered on the billboards along the highway, ads appear in various websites, and they are even being advertised on TV – the very same media where families consume and spend their time together, even children. If one isn’t strong-willed enough, they will be easily swayed by the devil itself.
Dire consequences
Online gambling doesn’t revolve around just risking or losing money. It goes beyond that.
- Debt Accumulation – Online gambling starts with small bets. Eventually, these “small bets” can spiral into bigger losses, forcing people to borrow money from various sources such as cash loans from banks and financial institutions, maxing out credit cards, as so on.
- Mental Stress – Financial losses due to online gambling leads to anxiety, depression, and addiction. Gambling, in general, can abuse a part of our brain that produces dopamine, which is a ‘feel good’ hormone responsible for pleasure and reward.
- Strained Relationships – Financial losses due to online gambling often cause tension in families and relationship.
- Missed Financial Goals – Financial goals are oftentimes missed due to gambling – money is wasted on bets that usually never pay off.
- Employment Risks – Online gambling can hurt employment by lowering productivity through distraction and absence. It may also lead to financial crimes, such as theft or fraud, which in return may cause disciplinary action or even job loss.
Will there be an end to this?
Online gambling continues to grow every day, and its influence spread especially to all of the Filipinos who are living with harsh, poor finances. The promise of “instant money” is enticing for them, only to find out in the end that it is nothing but a fairy tale. Yet, despite all of these, multiple organizations still continue to campaign for online gambling. “Gaming is fun,” they said. Well, until people’s lives are put on the line, that is.
However, despite everything, I am hoping that this rusted golden hellscape would finally be put to an end.
