pretty sure OP is a filipino.
i have an aunt that has gambling addiction, she use to go to casino and have even gone far to pampangga just so she can gamble there. her sons grew and have gone college so she eventually stopped going to casinos but she plays with me and all other niece right in their backyard til her sons learned all these card games. and i guess the sons been playing in casinos eventually. not a really good idea to teach kids to gamble, they soon aim for easy money and end up going to casinos.
Filipinos gamble when there's a wake to remain the people on the place or keeps them for being awake for the longnight. Also, it helps on getting (tongs) or the percentage the winner put on pot for the family's financial needs. We all filipinos know that its normal to have a child playing cards on another table because their parents wants them to keep on their sides even while playing. Hope there would be less marraige broken because of gambling.