Should politicians gamble?

[kotajikikox]

In some countries, politicians or any public official is restricted from gambling. Some people fail to understand why. Some people most likely who came from corrupt countries may have a better understanding. In the Philippines, corruption is a hot topic right now due to many failed infrastructure projects despite its enormous budgets. Some of these public officials were even exposed to have lost 300 Million PHP or over 5 Million USD. For a public official to lose that in gambling and still remain afloat seems suspicious don’t you think?

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

[Hispo]

Well, the salary of public officials is of public knowledge, as their salaries are paid with the money of the state, which in the end it is money of the people of the country. I would be okey with politicians gambling with their own money and responsibly, in order for it to be transparent it would be good if the amount of money those politicians wager and lose to the casino could be verified by anyone in the country.
Of the salary of politicians is public, then their gambling losses should also be public, otherwise, there is simply so much opportunity for some of them to turn onto corruption to fuel their addiction.

[Ojima-ojo]

In my country, politicians must have zero history of gambling, and if caught while in office, he will be treated as a case of Money laundering, gambling is a high risk events and for that public office holders and politically exposed persons are outrightly banned from participating in any of gambling activities.


To prevent this, there is high regulatory compliance in our gambling sector, most and all casinos with in my country have license and high complaince with regulatory demands, although we still have some politicians who still hide under the privacy enhancing environment provided by cryptocurrency gambling platforms, this make them to gamble is secret using online cryptocurrency casinos.

[Agbamoni]

I want to know how they were able to find out the exact amount those politicians lost in gambling. Is it the casino selling those information's out or they stupidly go about telling people how much they lost.

IMO, everyone is entitled to gamble. If everyone gambles responsibly there wont be any discrimination to people who are meant to gamble and those who are not meant to.

[Asiska02]

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Some of these public officials were even exposed to have lost 300 Million PHP or over 5 Million USD. For a public official to lose that in gambling and still remain afloat seems suspicious don’t you think?

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

These public officials have used the people’s money to gamble which is termed as theft and the government should deal with them accordingly. Gambling with the public’s money will never make them know the risky part of gambling or the pain of losing plenty of money, so they’ll want to continue. For a public officer to do this, I will term them greedy too much with the stolen money. You can’t have that big amount of money at your disposal and still want to gamble with it, or do they wish to return back the capital after they win big in gambling?

Public officials that are already addicted to gambling will still find their way to still gamble irrespective of the government’s regulations on them. They are the government and if they’re in such a big position to steal such big amount of money, they can always find their way through to make it happen even as the rules on the said law is still active.

[fullfitlarry]

I want to know how they were able to find out the exact amount those politicians lost in gambling. Is it the casino selling those information's out or they stupidly go about telling people how much they lost.

They are being investigated right now in our country, and most likely the Senators are getting their info on the casino itself.

As for the discussion, I think it's very obvious why they are not allowed to play not just in the Philippines but most countries in the world. It's because they don't want people to accused them of using tax payers money to gamble.

But in this case, it's really corruption and misuse of funds for this people who work in the government. Just imagine your salary is ~$1000 per month and yet you go to the office with a Ferrari?

[AVE5]

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

Gambling has been of a measure of this am not more than that. I can't remember if the casinos or any gambling platforms has ever asked me what I do for a living or my net worth before I can own an account and play in their site.
I don't also get it right where and how politicians can be restricted from gambling which is a mere entertainment and social activities. Or maybe I should drag a conclusion that being a politician doesn't make one irresponsible neither would politicians who're gamblers be vulnerable to loose more than the survivals or ordinary citizens when we know that gambling has it disciplinary measures and such a bank roll strategy that's determined based income. So do you mean Politicians doesn't have the ability to make such of a responsible decision in setting up good risk managements? Well let me just oust it this way, I'm not aware of politicians are restricted from gambling or not but if there's such, it's just a form of trying to keep good reputations since gambling is seem as illegal by most regulations. So they as leaders have to live my example so that their present doesn't have to portray promotion at where caught in any casino or gambling sites but I am sure they'd play online at their own convenience and privacy.

[danherbias07]

Still a no. Let's say they are responsible gamblers, but the urge will remain, and that single, minimal spark could ruin it all. He may use the funds that are meant for the people or for projects and infrastructures, which is why they are not allowed to gamble.

Then, it's called public service for a reason. To serve the public. To be a leader. To be a person that they will look up to. If they are gambling, then it wouldn't fit the criteria as a public servant. Actually, that is the one missing criterion in most of the politicians now. They want the position for power and gains, and not to serve.

[Somto9Light]

Well I have never seen a politician gambling before, even though some politicians will be attempting to do it secretly but I have never seen such. And even if there are politicians out there who do gamble I don't even see anything wrong with that. Moreover gambling is a game of fun and entertainment so that means every body is allowed to gamble whether politicians or president so Long as you're going with the intention of having fun I see nothing wrong in that, even if a politician choose to go with the intention of making Money through gamble yet I don't even see it as a bad thing so long as the money is coming from his personal account and not from the general account.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

In some countries, politicians or any public official is restricted from gambling. Some people fail to understand why. Some people most likely who came from corrupt countries may have a better understanding. In the Philippines, corruption is a hot topic right now due to many failed infrastructure projects despite its enormous budgets. Some of these public officials were even exposed to have lost 300 Million PHP or over 5 Million USD. For a public official to lose that in gambling and still remain afloat seems suspicious don’t you think?

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

No body is ever responsible enough bud, for no matter how responsible you think you are, a day always comes when you mess things up and you won't even understand what lead you to doing what you did, a day will come when you will chase and lose money and will only realize it only after the money is gone.

If you ask me truely, I would absolutely support the idea of politicians being banned from gambling as long as they are holding a post in the government, them and their relatives, but this is if actually this is not a reality already, there was a day I was trying to register on a casino (I can't remember the name or domain title of the casino), and in the form I was filling, I saw where they asked if I was a politician who currently holds a public office or am I related to a politician who currently holds a public office, there were two option, No and yes, I simply ticked No.

Politicians are to be banned from gambling to avoid them the temptation of using public funds for gambling.

[passwordnow]

But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble?

Responsible or not, that's a conflict of interest. Their salaries are paid through taxpayers money and that's why it's best for them to avoid anything related to gambling. If they want to gamble, they have to resign from their post and do what they like to do. They're at the mercy of the people and voted for them to be in the service and not for them to do the leisures that they like to do. Yes, they're humans but as long as they took under oath to serve the people, it's best for them to avoid things like gambling that has a conflict of interest in the public, as a public servant.

[Odogwu-Blockchain]

Then, it's called public service for a reason. To serve the public. To be a leader. To be a person that they will look up to. If they are gambling, then it wouldn't fit the criteria as a public servant. Actually, that is the one missing criterion in most of the politicians now. They want the position for power and gains, and not to serve.

Yes, we know they are public figures who is leading the nation while they are leaving an exemplary life, some of these politicians might have been gambling before going into politics and may be a strong supporter of a club even till their service time. There must be a possibility where they'll predict (in their private time) their favorite club to win a match, this can be in their room and no public news can carry such information.

I don't totally trust them, but I can say that politician can only bet on their favorite club to win a match, and it won't be an everyday thing.

[Felicity_Tide]

Should politicians gamble?

No, they shouldn't gamble. I don't know how the governmental system works, but I think gambling shouldn't be part of their activities in anyway. They are working for the supposed people that elected them, so everything that can possibly contribute to embezzling of public funds, which in this case, can be gambling, should be avoided and be restricted.

If you check professional athletes, there are certain substances that they are not allowed to take especially when it comes to extra enhancement of the system. They are expected to participate in their various sports with a 100% natural body system. So, I believe gambling should be prohibited for those in government.

But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble?

It doesn't matter if they are responsible or not. You can't just allow something just because some people are disciplined while others are not. Their priority is to work for those that elected them, and not the other way round.

[Odusko]

But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble?

Responsible or not, that's a conflict of interest. Their salaries are paid through taxpayers money and that's why it's best for them to avoid anything related to gambling. If they want to gamble, they have to resign from their post and do what they like to do. They're at the mercy of the people and voted for them to be in the service and not for them to do the leisures that they like to do. Yes, they're humans but as long as they took under oath to serve the people, it's best for them to avoid things like gambling that has a conflict of interest in the public, as a public servant.

In countries like mine, government workers and politicians gamble freely, that is why they have access to move alot of funds out of the country, . money laundering is the reason why they are gambling, we even have a governor that owns a lot of gambling establishment and he treats them as channels to move money around illegally, he got arrested after he left office with high corruption charges against presently.

[SATWAT]

In our country gambling is strictly banned but sadly many politicians have a history of gambling and other illegal activities. they have sources and influence that encourage them to do these things without fear it's all happening because the law isn't working as it should be.

A few weeks ago one minister was caught in London by a group of young people after losing nearly $3 million in a casino he is still the minister and no one can touch him corruption has reached the top just because of this our country is losing billions of dollars due to floods and other problems but nothing positive is happening they are using our money for gambling and other illegal activities.

[passwordnow]

But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble?

Responsible or not, that's a conflict of interest. Their salaries are paid through taxpayers money and that's why it's best for them to avoid anything related to gambling. If they want to gamble, they have to resign from their post and do what they like to do. They're at the mercy of the people and voted for them to be in the service and not for them to do the leisures that they like to do. Yes, they're humans but as long as they took under oath to serve the people, it's best for them to avoid things like gambling that has a conflict of interest in the public, as a public servant.

In countries like mine, government workers and politicians gamble freely, that is why they have access to move alot of funds out of the country, . money laundering is the reason why they are gambling, we even have a governor that owns a lot of gambling establishment and he treats them as channels to move money around illegally, he got arrested after he left office with high corruption charges against presently.

I think most of them have the same reasons, even in countries that doesn't allow politicians to gamble, it's all about laundering and washing money. They're making it look like that they've lost in a casino a lot of money but little did the public knows, as you've said, they've already moved the money elsewhere with the cooperation of the casino. These corrupt practices really are happening but for the sake of public service, this is only one of the many reasons why a politicians or any public servant shouldn't be allowed to gamble.

[Cointxz]

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

It’s conflict of interest since they are serving the public that needs trust. Government officials is highly susceptible to greediness due to the money they are handling from the government funds that’s why corruption is very high.

If normal person that has no access to huge fund can be addicted then it’s worst for someone that has access to huge funds while they can hide their tracks by bribing and different method.

They shouldn’t run for government official if they are responsible enough to gamble.

[Darker45]

The policy doesn't specify whether public officials are responsible gamblers or not. It's a blanket directive to all those covered government officials not to play in casinos. As a matter of fact, it's not only playing that's prohibited. Even entering or staying in a casino is prohibited.

So, it's not because they can be irresponsible gamblers. It's simply because playing loitering in a casino doesn't fit with the good conduct and ethical standards expected from a public servant.

I agree with the policy. It's better to deprive responsible gamblers of such fun than face the risk of public officials getting addicted. We need to consider that these officials have powerful access to huge public funds.

[alegotardo]

In some countries, politicians or any public official is restricted from gambling. Some people fail to understand why. Some people most likely who came from corrupt countries may have a better understanding. In the Philippines, corruption is a hot topic right now due to many failed infrastructure projects despite its enormous budgets. Some of these public officials were even exposed to have lost 300 Million PHP or over 5 Million USD. For a public official to lose that in gambling and still remain afloat seems suspicious don’t you think?

This is why they are restricted from gambling. But do you think that if they are responsible enough they can still gamble? Should gamble just be considered as a leisure activity not telling of one’s financial condition?

Yes and no!!!!!

I think anyone people is free to choose what forms of leisure they want to have and especially where want to spend they money... not politicians only, but also "ordinary" peoples can manage gambling without interfering with their professional responsibility. But I think the problem with politicians lies are at  how they perceive this to society... like: "Are they manage public funds well?"

Tell me... if you see a politician in a casino, spending and lose a lot of money, you would not think  also: "Did this all come from their own pocket or there are public money involved? Embezled money?" In bureaucratic countries this is even more exacerbated, the public image is truly compromised... so I think that are why some countries create these limitations.

[danadc]

Politicians in any country are politicians, for me politicians are easily manipulated if there is money involved, politicians do what they want, they skip many laws just because they are politicians, so let's not fool ourselves, if they lost those $5M it is surely from the government's income as such, no politician is capable of risking their own money like that, the politicians' own money can surely be in gold, even in BTC and in real estate.