![\"E-gamblers](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/News1055103-1200x900.jpg\")
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CHASING LUCK Lendon Purawan, a 39-year-old manicurist from Barangay Pandan, Ligao City reflects on the highs and lows of his online gambling journey, which began during a casual drinking session last May. Once a stress reliever and quick source of income, the habit has since led to mounting debts and emotional strain. \u2014Michael B. Jaucian<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 \u201cI sold my soul to the devil,\u201d said Mae (not her real name), a 25-year-old woman who confessed to being addicted to online gaming\u2014an obsession that has cost her not only her savings but also her relationships, peace of mind, and sense of self.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Wednesday, Mae, a resident of San Antonio, Zambales, recounted how a simple, fun way to pass the time gradually turned into an uncontrollable habit.<\/p>\n
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She soon found herself glued to her mobile phone screen for hours, neglecting household chores and daily tasks, and spending less time with her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy addiction didn\u2019t just hurt me\u2014it hurt the people I care about,\u201d she said softly. \u201cI didn\u2019t see it before, but now I know it broke our trust and made us grow apart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite not being a regular gambler, Mae said she was lured into playing an online casino game called Scatter in July last year, enticed by the promise of instant money.<\/p>\n
Initially, she won P15,000, which led her to continue playing. However, she soon found herself losing more than she was winning.<\/p>\n
When she calculated her losses, she was shocked to discover that her debt had ballooned to almost P100,000, prompting her to stop playing in October the same year.<\/p>\n
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Ruined lives<\/p>\n
Despite the country\u2019s crackdown on offshore gaming operators, online gambling has exploded, affecting many Filipinos and their families.<\/p>\n
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have said they are taking down thousands of illegal gaming websites operating in the country amid concerns over their social impact.<\/p>\n
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While a game like Scatter cannot be banned as it is offered by licensed gaming websites, families can get their kin banned from playing such games by lodging a report with Pagcor.<\/p>\n
Ease of access<\/p>\n
Mae, now debt-free, is grateful that she came to her senses on her own without the intervention of her family, who could have gone to Pagcor to have her banned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (online gambling) ruins lives,\u201d she warned, urging others to stop before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n
Over in Tagbilaran City, Herbert (family name withheld upon his request) went through the same experience.<\/p>\n
Introduced to mobile e-games by his friends, he found himself hooked not just by the thrill of winning, but also by the ease of access provided by digital wallets like GCash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe games made me feel occupied,\u201d said Herbert, 34, a resident of Pamaong Street in Barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City.<\/p>\n
The app offered various live games such as Pula Puti, Color Game, and Baccarat, which became part of his daily routine. With bets ranging from as low as P5 to as high as P500, the temptation was just a tap away.<\/p>\n
Initially, he experienced a winning streak playing Bingo Plus slots, which helped him provide for some family needs. But the fortune was fleeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Digital addiction<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve already lost my savings,\u201d he added. \u201cI just computed everything I spent\u2014it has (already reached) close to P50,000. I feel like such a loser.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the losses, Herbert continues to play, though with smaller bets of P5 or P10. However, the impact has extended beyond his finances\u2014the addiction has also caused strain in his relationships.<\/p>\n
His partner, CheChe, voiced out her frustration: \u201cI don\u2019t understand why regulatory bodies are not holding GCash accountable for allowing this. As soon as you open the app, gambling ads are front and center. This is the new e-sabong for many with gambling problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Paul, 15, a student, it was a low-stakes activity at first. He began playing Scatter Slots daily by betting P10 or P20 from his allowance. When he felt lucky, he went as high as P1,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was one time I kept winning for hours. It made me believe I could actually beat the system,\u201d he said, adding that many of his classmates were also into e-gaming.<\/p>\n
With online gambling apps increasingly accessible, particularly through GCash and similar platforms, concerns are growing over how they may be enabling a new wave of digital addiction, especially among the youth.<\/p>\n
Authorities have yet to take decisive steps to address the issue but families and advocates are calling for greater regulation, transparency, and education on the risks of online gambling.<\/p>\n
One-day millionaire<\/p>\n
Lendon Purawan, 39, a manicurist in Ligao City, Albay, rapidly went down the rabbit hole of electronic gambling after a friend introduced him to an online casino just last May 15.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were drinking when my friend told me about it. I gave it a try, and it actually made me feel relaxed,\u201d Purawan told the Inquirer.<\/p>\n
With a starting capital of just P100, Purawan said he hit a jackpot that earned him P11,500 in five hours. \u201cIt made me a one-day millionaire. Just imagine winning that much in such a short time!\u201d<\/p>\n
Following his big win, Purawan said he immediately withdrew the money through GCash and used it to lend money to friends, pay his monthly motorcycle dues, and treat them to snacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn total, I\u2019ve already won around P45,000 from just P100 in capital. But I\u2019ve also lost about P15,000,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
However, what began as a way to unwind has since become a source of financial anxiety. Purawan said he would often feel uneasy when he could not play, especially when he had no money to bet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI end up borrowing money just to play. Sadly, I\u2019ve lost many times, and it\u2019s difficult to pay off my debts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Still, he\u2019s ambivalent about the activity. Asked how he would feel if electronic gambling were banned, Purawan said it would be a \u201chuge loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d feel sad because it really helps me meet my basic daily needs, especially buying food for my family. More than anything, it\u2019s a stress reliever. I hope it won\u2019t be removed, or at least they won\u2019t raise the minimum bet so I can still play and win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hooked on e-sabong<\/p>\n
In Tagbilaran City\u2019s Sagkahan district, it was online sabong (cockfighting) that got \u201cJaniel\u201d (not his real name) hooked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always find a way to get money just to satisfy my craving for talpak,\u201d he said, using the street term for betting on cockfights.<\/p>\n
Janiel, 34, said his gambling problem worsened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, since \u201cthere was nothing much to do during the lockdowns.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time, he was working as a company driver for a local business establishment. But his growing dependence on online gambling led to absenteeism and poor work performance, eventually resulting in the loss of his job.<\/p>\n
What started as small bets ranging from P50 to P100 quickly escalated to wagers as high as P5,000. With only a daily income of around P400 back then, Janiel soon found himself drowning in debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would even ask strangers for money just so I could place a bet. I\u2019d call friends in the middle of the night, making up excuses so they\u2019d lend me a few hundred pesos,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up with cockfighting. My father was into it, so was my brother, and practically all the adult men in our neighborhood,\u201d he recalled. \u201cIt was normal to see men cradling gamecocks, talking about bets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Janiel, who lives with his common-law wife, said his addiction has taken a toll on their relationship. \u201cI\u2019ve hurt her, my family, and even lost good friends along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
His former employer repeatedly warned him about his gambling habits before eventually letting him go.<\/p>\n
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Now unemployed, Janiel still finds himself drawn to the thrill of online betting. \u201cI really don\u2019t know how to stop. Only God knows,\u201d he said, his voice trailing off. \/cb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CHASING LUCK Lendon Purawan, a 39-year-old manicurist from Barangay Pandan, Ligao City reflects on the highs and lows…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":252217,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4317],"tags":[105,218,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-252216","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-mental-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114826342907495762","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252216\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}