Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David has raised serious concerns about the government’s approach to online gambling, highlighting the potential risks of addiction among families and young people.

“Goodbye, studies. Goodbye, decent jobs. Goodbye [to] the hope of hardworking families,” David, who is also the Bishop of Kalookan, said in a social media post on Monday, June 30.

“And hello—hello to a whole generation of gambling addicts,” he added.

David described the government’s online gambling policy as a “theatre of the absurd,” criticizing the widespread accessibility of online betting platforms that expose children and families to the risks of gambling addiction.

“Who needs to sneak into a high-end casino when the casino has been brought into every living room, every bedroom, every child’s pocket—right there on the glowing screen of a smartphone?” he said.

David’s remarks followed a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) advisory alerting the public to illegal offshore gambling sites fraudulently presenting themselves as licensed by the agency.

He criticized authorities for focusing on illegal offshore gambling sites while paying less attention to the impact of locally licensed platforms. 

He also condemned celebrities and influencers promoting gambling apps on social media, accusing them of “prostituting themselves for a fee” in service of “conscience-less billionaires.”

The cardinal expressed particular concern for families, especially children of overseas Filipino workers, warning that hard-earned remittances may be lost to online gambling instead of serving their intended purpose.

David warned that without urgent action, the country risks “sacrificing an entire generation on the altar of easy profit.”

“We are doomed—unless we wake up,” he said.