The House Always Wins: How Online Gambling’s Legal Facade Masks a Devastating Addiction

A massive online gambling billboard looms over a major highway. This aggressive marketing tactic raises serious questions about the normalization of online gambling and its potential impact on vulnerable individuals and families. (Image courtesy of Art Samaniego Jr.)

The House Always Wins: How Online Gambling’s Legal Facade Masks a Devastating Addiction

By Bing Jabadan — Thenationweek.com  

July 4, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Online gambling, a readily accessible vice in the digital age, is rapidly emerging as a particularly insidious addiction, fueled by aggressive marketing and readily available online payment portals.

While regulators rake in massive profits, millions of individuals are finding their lives, and the livelihoods of their families, consumed by the 24/7 temptation.

The lure of online gambling is amplified by sophisticated promotional campaigns, often featuring well-known artists and celebrities, further normalizing the practice.

This pervasive marketing creates a dangerous illusion of harmless entertainment, masking the potential for devastating financial and personal consequences.

One particularly striking example of this hypocrisy is the towering BingoPlus billboard visible alongside the Skyway.

Its message, urging the public to “pause na muna” when gambling becomes dangerous, rings hollow considering the company’s aggressive promotion of online gambling.

Critics are calling it a calculated PR stunt, akin to a drug dealer advising addicts to take a break.

“It’s insincere, hollow, and insulting,” says a gambling addiction specialist, a family member of an addict, etc. This adds credibility and impact.

“They make billions by encouraging gambling behavior, flooding social media, sponsoring celebrities, and dominating advertising spaces. Then suddenly, they act concerned when people spiral into addiction?”

The accessibility of online gambling, particularly through e-wallets and online payment systems, exacerbates the problem.

Reports indicate a growing number of delivery riders, for example, are falling victim to the allure, often returning home empty-handed after losing their hard-earned income in a digital gamble.

The core issue lies in the inherent conflict of interest. The industry profits from addiction while simultaneously attempting to portray an image of social responsibility.

Meaningful change requires more than just superficial advertising campaigns.

It demands a fundamental shift in approach, including:

• Curbing Aggressive Marketing:

Ceasing the practice of targeting vulnerable populations, particularly the youth, with glamorous depictions of online gambling.

• Restricting Access:

Limiting the 24/7 availability of online gambling platforms and implementing stricter verification processes to prevent underage gambling.

• Investing in Prevention and Treatment:

Allocating a significant portion of gambling revenue to fund comprehensive addiction prevention programs and accessible treatment options.

Until these concrete steps are taken, the “pause na muna” message remains a cynical marketing ploy.

The industry’s actions speak louder than any billboard, revealing a system that profits from the very vice it pretends to warn against.

The house, it seems, always wins – and the players are paying the price.