By Mark Saludes, Philippines
PHILIPPINES – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has raised alarm over the rise of online gambling, calling it a “new plague or virus” that is silently destroying individuals, families, and society.
“We are deeply concerned because it seems there is a new plague or virus destroying individuals, families, and society. This plague is the addiction to online gambling,” the bishops said in a pastoral letter signed by CBCP President, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio S. David of Kalookan.
The prelates noted that despite previous action against POGOs and e-sabong, online gambling has re-emerged in digital form—easily accessible, widely promoted, and increasingly addictive. They warned that it now ensnares even the youth, often without families realizing it.
Invoking Luke 4:18, the bishops emphasized that Christ came “to bring good news to the poor” and “to set the oppressed free”—a call they said obliges the Church to speak against structures of modern enslavement.
Moral crisis disguised as leisure
The letter described online gambling as a moral crisis, not just a recreational activity. Though some may claim it as a “human right,” the bishops argued that this does not make it right—especially when it causes harm.
They warned that online platforms are deliberately engineered to be enticing, using celebrity endorsements and colorful ads to lure people in. The platforms’ 24/7 accessibility and seamless integration with financial apps make them especially dangerous, often leading users to financial ruin in a single click. Over time, gambling dulls a person’s moral compass, normalizing destructive behavior.
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