Philippines banning gambling ads?

[Russlenat]

In Serbia, casinos & gambling ads are everywhere... You see it on national television, newspapers, radio, the internet, kids YouTube channels & games for kids, at any time of the day or night. I'm not against it, but it's too much and should be regulated somehow.

You are from Serbia? May I know what kind of impact gambling has there? Does it bring more positive or negative effects to the people? Is gambling addiction also a big problem in your country?

Because if gambling is very open there, then I assume it has already become one form of entertainment for many people. And if it is not causing serious problems that destroy peoples lives, maybe thats why the government is not taking stronger action against it.

Here in the Philippines, we have already seen many cases of gambling addiction. If you listen to the news, there are people who became addicted and ended up committing robbery, stealing, or other crimes just to get money to finance their gambling.

[Die_empty]

This does not really need advertisements because people can already see other people smoking, and that alone can make them curious to try it.

Gambling is different now because most of it is done online and can easily be hidden. You may not even know that someone is already gambling because they are just doing it inside their room. So when gambling is heavily advertised online, I think it can easily attract more people even if they dont personally see others gambling.

I actually notice this in our country. There are people who I can say are really poor, but they still come to our store to cash in through GCash just to gamble. Sometimes its only around $5, but for them that amount could already be useful for a day. And since we know they are not going to win in the long run, it starts to look less like gambling for entertainment and more like just giving money to the operators.

The US has the highest rate of gamblers globally but the government is not pushing stringent rules like the Philippines. The reason might be because most people don't see gambling as a means of making money in the US. When people are unemployed and poor, they start seeking ways to survive. Sadly, gambling becomes one of the means of surviving. I am afraid that these measures that the government of Philipines are putting in place might not curtail gambling addiction until the economy improves.  

We also face the same increase in the poor using their small returns for gambling in my country. Many gamblers would switch to unlicensed casinos when the government comes up with some stringent restrictions.  

[Awaklara]

We also face the same increase in the poor using their small returns for gambling in my country. Many gamblers would switch to unlicensed casinos when the government comes up with some stringent restrictions.  

Phenomena like that happen in almost every country, even in countries that ban gambling. Online gambling activities can still be done illegally. Even though there are bigger risks, like fines and criminal charges, in reality gamblers always do it to make money from luck. 

If the Philippine government has strategic steps and implements them gradually to reduce gambling addiction there, it could be effective. But if all they do is block ads on TV or social media, that step might not be effective enough.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

We also face the same increase in the poor using their small returns for gambling in my country. Many gamblers would switch to unlicensed casinos when the government comes up with some stringent restrictions.  

Phenomena like that happen in almost every country, even in countries that ban gambling. Online gambling activities can still be done illegally. Even though there are bigger risks, like fines and criminal charges, in reality gamblers always do it to make money from luck. 

If the Philippine government has strategic steps and implements them gradually to reduce gambling addiction there, it could be effective. But if all they do is block ads on TV or social media, that step might not be effective enough.

How bad is gambling ads in the Philippines? after Marcos Jr, announced the POGO banned on his SONA it appears that it was pure talk and just for fun

WHY?

You can see some ads on highways.
You can see ads on social media even on messenger.
You can see ads on TV
And even you are in CINEMA, you will see ads on the big screen even outside the cinema its flashing.

[Jostern]

I feel every country should do that, just to prevent kids getting sucked into this business. I mean they do it with cigarettes and other stuff, same should go for gambling ads. But no, in other countries you see this stuff 24/7, in commercials on TV, on adds in football stadiums and and and. Philippines are doing the right thing cause over there the gambling pandemic is already very advanced, saw a documentary about this subject some weeks ago on youtube. Better try to stop it before it gets even worse.



 

But I’m curious if doing all that just to crack down gambling is even going to provide any solutions to whatever they want to eradicate from their Country.

People who knows about gambling are still going to find other means of having access to gambling, there is so many technologies out there now that can provide unimaginable access to casino gambling online, we have VPN that can do all of this things.

I guess they’re trying to protect children from gambling informations, they should just stop them from using a phone, I think that is the only solution for them, probably 18+ can use a phone, I think that is what will work perfectly.

Stopping gambling addiction is something that is a personal decision, doing all that might not provide any solutions, they should first all work on their economy and provide job and opportunity for its citizens, then see what happens with the gambling addiction.

[fredericktaylor]

When people get used to gambling, gambling ads are not necessary anymore. People who are already used to gambling can indirectly become the spokespersons for casinos.

Well said. Those who are familiar with gambling does not care if there are gambling ads or there are none of them. People face gambling indirectly everywhere. They see episodes of gambling in movies, they see gambling elements in games, they read about gambling. There are many more example. That banning is similar to not talking about what everyone already know about. I dont know who will banning save from gambling? Those who are first time in the internet or went outside their house for the first time most likely.

They are not the target here, those ads are targeting more of a non-player and try to lure them into playing for the first time. And if that happens, then chances are they are going to fall for it and then the vicious cycles start.

Of course, those who are into gambling already knows the ads and so they won't care that much. But those who are seeing it for the first time might be the next statistics in our country to become gambling addicts.

Basically, gambling advertisements usually attract a person to gamble. Gambling advertisements usually tempt people, as a result of which a person starts gambling with the mindset of getting rich quickly, as a result of which they quickly lose all their money. Those who are not actually involved in gambling, but only by watching advertisements without knowing or understanding anything, are attracted to gambling with the goal of getting rich quickly, as a result of which they quickly lose money. Another important point is that the number of those who are not of legal age to gamble is increasing day by day. The government can take various steps to curb addiction, but I think it will not be possible to control it properly if the common people are not aware of it themselves.

[Bigjoe33]

So do you think this will actually pass or is it already too late?

You can also share what is happening in your country if you have a similar situation.

To me I do not see it as something too late because even though there are others who already fallen a victim of gambling addiction, the prevention could help those who are yet to start gambling or having interest to start gambling. It is not actually that easy to entirely eliminate gambling adverts across all the social media platforms, and even though there is a restriction there could be some people who are accessing the internet or gambling site with VPN which could allow them to have full access to everything on the internet.

Well, I think this is gonna be more active on intending gamblers and not already existing and addicted gamblers. Addiction is a very strong thing to curb and simply passing a bill to stop gambling ads on all social media platform will not stop already existing and addicted gamblers to stop gambling.

But I want to look at it from the positive side, yea. If gambling ads are totally prevented on social media, that's if the bill is passed and signed into law, it then will help the younger ones from taking there attention away from gambling or not having much thought about it since they are not conversant with such ads or seen such updates always anything they are online. I think it's a positive one, at least, the younger generation, of course not all will be saved from possible future addiction to gambling.

[angrybirdy]

When people get used to gambling, gambling ads are not necessary anymore. People who are already used to gambling can indirectly become the spokespersons for casinos.

Well said. Those who are familiar with gambling does not care if there are gambling ads or there are none of them. People face gambling indirectly everywhere. They see episodes of gambling in movies, they see gambling elements in games, they read about gambling. There are many more example. That banning is similar to not talking about what everyone already know about. I dont know who will banning save from gambling? Those who are first time in the internet or went outside their house for the first time most likely.

They are not the target here, those ads are targeting more of a non-player and try to lure them into playing for the first time. And if that happens, then chances are they are going to fall for it and then the vicious cycles start.

Of course, those who are into gambling already knows the ads and so they won't care that much. But those who are seeing it for the first time might be the next statistics in our country to become gambling addicts.

Basically, gambling advertisements usually attract a person to gamble. Gambling advertisements usually tempt people, as a result of which a person starts gambling with the mindset of getting rich quickly, as a result of which they quickly lose all their money. Those who are not actually involved in gambling, but only by watching advertisements without knowing or understanding anything, are attracted to gambling with the goal of getting rich quickly, as a result of which they quickly lose money. Another important point is that the number of those who are not of legal age to gamble is increasing day by day. The government can take various steps to curb addiction, but I think it will not be possible to control it properly if the common people are not aware of it themselves.

Very well said, the main target of those advertisements that appear everywhere is really those people who they know will be interested when the ads show the possibility of having a better life, having lots of money, or finding a solution to their problems and financial struggles...The saddest part is, what if someone who is already experiencing serious financial problems sees or comes across a gambling advertisement and gets the idea that gambling might actually help to solve their problems? But once they start gambling, they may end up being even more deeply trapped in their problems because they start using the little money they have for gambling. That is what people are trying to avoid, to prevent someone from getting involved in a bigger problem simply because they gained the courage or hope that they might be able to escape to their struggles by trying gambling, just like what is portrayed in these commercial advertisements.

[JoyceBTC]

Even though they ban gambling ads, it not a guarantee that people will stop gambling, gambling addicts will still gamble and pass information between themselves but it will help younger ones who might likely get influenced by most of this ads to start gambling to stay out of it.

This will reduce the awareness of gambling site more especially for new casinos, because ads are one of the easiest means people get to know more of this gambling sites, it might also reduce income for gambling sites, so for that aspect it might be an issue but regardless people will still gamble.

[bakasabo]

In Serbia, casinos & gambling ads are everywhere... You see it on national television, newspapers, radio, the internet, kids YouTube channels & games for kids, at any time of the day or night. I'm not against it, but it's too much and should be regulated somehow.

You are from Serbia? May I know what kind of impact gambling has there? Does it bring more positive or negative effects to the people? Is gambling addiction also a big problem in your country?

Because if gambling is very open there, then I assume it has already become one form of entertainment for many people. And if it is not causing serious problems that destroy peoples lives, maybe thats why the government is not taking stronger action against it.

Here in the Philippines, we have already seen many cases of gambling addiction. If you listen to the news, there are people who became addicted and ended up committing robbery, stealing, or other crimes just to get money to finance their gambling.

In my country there are also a lot of gambling ads; in form of banners and unskippable videos in the internet, in form of billboards at roadside and public transport stops, there are small casino franchises in many places in the city. What impact is has done to society? Hard to tell. Because those who are not smart enough and consider gambling as way to get money, will gamble without those ads. Those who have weak self-control, will gamble and become addicted. Those who are not well raised, will turn criminal to get money for gambling and not only for gambling. If there was a switch that turn on and off ads, then switching it on and off does not change anything.