Reading BecomingFilipino’s post made me feel sad.
https://www.facebook.com/becomingfilipinoYesterday, I had the saddest jeepney ride I have ever experienced…
I was right behind the driver, a Manong, probably in his late fifties. Whenever we had a delayed stop, he would check his phone and try to spin a few more slots on Bingo Plus. When we had a really long stop, he kept loading 50 peso with gcash, losing it quickly, and reloading…
Sad to think, he easily blew all his earnings for work in the day… in minutes. It was one of the most depressing rides I have ever had.
We all may have vices… I mean gambling has always been deep rooted in culture here. Just look at perya or sabong. But grabe, it just seems like online gambling has completely taken over. Billboards everywhere, ads in apps, random text messages… even slot machines being modeled by Miss Universe contestants on coronation night, talking about being “empowered”.
As I watched Manong, I couldn’t help but think…
Gcash, please disconnect from gambling websites. It is just too easy 😞
Just couldn’t help but share my sadness and thoughts. That is all.
This is how serious gambling has become in the Philippines. I’m not against gambling in general, but if it’s making people struggle even more, then I don’t think it’s a good thing anymore. It’s already become very rampant, and that’s mostly because of the popular app GCash, which has made it so easy to access online casinos.
Just recently, the House approved the ban on POGO, but it turns out there’s an even bigger problem now, and that is online gambling that’s easily accessible to everyone. For those who aren’t familiar, POGO stands for ( Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator). They operated in the Philippines but catered to overseas gamblers. Unfortunately, they were linked to illegal activities, especially online scams and money laundering, which is why the government decided to ban them.
But what happened is that we ended up with a new problem.. online gambling that could increase the poverty rate even further.
I hope the government takes notice, because we’re really in big trouble.
Online gambling has become much easier for people, but it has also created many problems for online people. Online gambling is currently the most popular among people and people can easily participate in online gambling in a very short time where there is no effort, just deposit some money and you can gamble there. After all these advantages, people will have some difficulties because where there are many advantages, there are some difficulties. However, if every person is aware and knows how to judge their own good and bad, then in that case they can be very safe from any bad deeds. Although gambling has not been officially banned in the Philippines, POGO has been banned because they have committed fraud so brazenly that the government has been forced to ban it. Every POGO employee is guilty here, due to which everyone is subject to punishment.