Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa has warned that gambling addiction has evolved into a full-blown mental health issue, citing its impact on Filipino families and even road safety.

“Ang bad effect ng gambling is habit-forming at behavioral. Sa amin, it’s a mental-health problem, addiction to gambling is a mental health problem (The bad effect of gambling is that it’s habit-forming and behavioral. For us, it’s a mental-health problem, addiction to gambling is a mental health problem),” Herbosa told reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday, July 16.

The health chief said the ease of access to online gambling has made it harder to contain its effects.

“So nakita niyo, maraming pamilya na lulon sa gambling because it is very accessible (You’ve seen it, many families are hooked on gambling because it’s very accessible).”

Herbosa expressed support for either a full ban or stricter controls, saying both approaches have merit.

“So I agree with both—either you want to ban it or you want to regulate it (So I agree with both sides—whether you want to ban it or regulate it),” he said.

He pointed to the saturation of gambling advertisements on digital platforms as a major concern.

“Parang pag-open mo ng cellphone mo, may gambling na agad; mag-open ka ng social media mo, may gambling advertisement. So sa akin, mental health issue ito. So it’s still a health issue (It’s like when you open your phone, gambling is already there; you open your social media, there’s a gambling advertisement. For me, this is a mental health issue. It’s still a health issue),” said Herbosa.

One of the more alarming findings, he said, is gambling’s link to deadly road crashes involving public transport drivers.

“Nadiskubre ko nga, sa road safety, ‘yung mga bus driver daw kaya pala naaksidente, buong gabi nag-ga-gambling, tapos nagdra-drive, napupuyat kakasugal. So naapektuhan, may namamatay pa dahil sa tutulog-tulog habang nagdra-drive (I discovered that in terms of road safety, some bus drivers get into accidents because they gamble all night, then drive while sleep-deprived. People are dying because drivers fall asleep at the wheel),” the DOH chief said.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin, strictly regulate or if possible, i-ban na lang totally (If you ask me, strictly regulate it or if possible, just totally ban it),” Herbosa said.

Call to ban online gambling

On June 30, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David slammed the government’s approach to online gambling, calling it a “theatre of the absurd” and warning of its dangers to families and the youth.

David raised alarm over the easy access to gambling apps, saying children are being exposed to addiction risks due to weak regulation.

The prelate’s statement came after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) issued an advisory against illegal offshore gambling sites posing as licensed operators.

But David argued the real problem is being ignored.

He said authorities are cracking down on offshore sites while turning a blind eye to the harm caused by locally licensed platforms.

David also took aim at celebrities and influencers promoting gambling apps online, saying they are “prostituting themselves for a fee” to serve “conscience-less billionaires.”