Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan has warned that the rise of legalized online gambling in the Philippines is turning digital spaces into predatory “highways” that target the vulnerable, especially the poor and young.
In his homily on July 13, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) drew from the Parable of the Good Samaritan, urging Catholics to see beyond physical roads and recognize the suffering hidden in the online world.
“These online highways make communication faster and easier. But they have also become a curse,” said Cardinal David.
The prelate added that the scheme “made it easier and faster for thieves and predators to rob and victimize people traveling on these digital highways — millions of us who spend our days online.”
The cardinal said digital technologies, while beneficial, have also become tools for exploitation — enabling scammers, propagandists, and predators to deceive users through fake news, pornography, and gambling.
He expressed concern over how algorithms feed users more of the same content with every click, reinforcing harmful behaviors.
“What is truly painful is when it’s government agencies themselves — like PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) — that lead the way in making this kind of victimization possible by legalizing online gambling,” he said.
David recalled how the Philippines initially became a hub for online gambling through POGOs, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, which catered to Chinese gamblers unable to play legally in their own country.
When POGOs were linked to crimes such as human trafficking, they were shut down — but instead of stopping the industry, it was redirected toward Filipino users.
“Before, legal gambling was limited to casinos, which only the wealthy could visit. Now, the casino is in everyone’s pocket — on every cell phone — accessible anytime, anywhere, 24/7,” the cardinal said.
“Rich or poor, young or old, anyone can gamble, even without cash in hand. They’ll even lend you money through GCash or e-wallets,” he added.
He also criticized the role of celebrities and influencers in promoting gambling apps, saying it has contributed to a spike in addiction and hidden financial ruin in Filipino households.
“Many OFWs send money home to their families through GCash, only to discover later that the rent, school fees, or store debts weren’t paid. Why? Because the child or spouse was secretly gambling online,” David said.
Unlike the traditional card games played publicly in neighborhoods — where there was social pressure and accountability — digital gambling, he said, is isolated and often invisible.
“Now, it’s private — no one sees, no one knows — and it’s just one tap on a smartphone for a whole paycheck to vanish,” he said.
Cardinal David said gambling addiction has destroyed academic futures, emptied family savings, and lured even mothers desperate for income. Yet instead of helping, society often blames the victims.
“Society often judges them harshly — blaming them for being ‘weak’ or ‘immoral,’” he said. “We fail to see the real culprit: a government that grants licenses and expands online gambling platforms on these digital highways just to earn revenue for public spending — spending that often becomes a tool for political power through ‘ayuda’ handouts.”
He called on the faithful to recognize these unseen victims and allow the Word of God to inspire action.
“The Word opens our eyes to see the hidden victims on these digital highways; it awakens our hearts, stirs our consciences, and moves us to care,” he said. “May the Word of God make us true neighbors to the wounded — not just on our physical streets, but also on these new roads of the digital world.”
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