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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Mas maraming natatalo': Bukidnon solon issues wake-up call to online gambling addicts

'Mas maraming natatalo': Bukidnon solon issues wake-up call to online gambling addicts

Published Jul 6, 2025 05:02 am

At A Glance

  • Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores has offered an advice-slash-wake-up call to Filipinos who are addicted to online gambling.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
(MANILA BULLETIN)

Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores has offered an advice-slash-wake-up call to Filipinos who are addicted to online gambling.
Simply put, it's ''The gambling establishment always wins.''
Flores shared this in a recent interview even as he and his fellow 20th Congress solons filed a slew of anti-online gambling bills.
''The house always wins [in gambling]. So no matter how hard you try, in the end matatalo ka rin (you will lose),'' the second-termer said when asked about his message to people who just can't stop their betting ways.
''So, buti pa, iwas na lang. Kasi sa, mas hirap na ngayong buhay ngayon and you have to gamble your money away pa (So it's better to just avoid it. It's because life is harder now and you have to gamble your money away to boot),'' Flores, a lawyer, said.
While the Mindanaoan acknowledged that some bettors win sometimes, the vast majority of them come home empty-handed. ''Some win, that's true, but more lose. Mas maraming natatalo (More people lose).''
The quest to regulate, if not totally ban, online gambling has become a major talking point again with filing of measures in the 20th Congress.
Cut off easy access
Flores has filed a measure that seeks to remove online gambling site buttons or access from e-wallets. He says that such direct links to online gambling feeds the addiction of some Filipinos.
''Don't get me wrong. I love the e-wallets. They're so useful. They're so important these days. But the thing is, is it still, is it necessary for them to have direct links to the online gambling apps?'' he asked.
''So it's like feeding the addiction. Parang, 'Sige, laro ka pa (It's like, 'Go on and play more').' You can do it anytime, anywhere. Pag naubusan ka ng pera (If you run out of money), you can just top up and load again. Or in fact, it even offers loans. So, loan ka sa e-wallet (So you make loans through e-wallets),'' explained Flores.
'''Malay mo, baka manano ka ('You might win, who knows').' Yan ang parang messaging na nagagawa na by making it so accessible (Such is the resulting message from making it accessible),'' added the House Young Guns bloc member.
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