Addiction to online gambling a mental health issue — DOH chief Herbosa

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Addiction to online gambling a mental health issue — DOH chief Herbosa

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA — Addiction to online gambling can be considered a mental health problem, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.

At the sidelines of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project forum in Taguig City, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said easy access to online gambling has greatly contributed to the growing problem of addiction.

“Maraming pamilya nalulong or lulong sa gambling kasi it's very accessible. Gambling is habit-forming at behavioral. Either ban or regulation is fine with me,” he said.

(A lot of families are addicted to gambling because it’s very accessible. Gambling is habit-forming and behavioral.) 

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Herbosa’s statement comes after Malacanang said it is studying calls for a total ban on online gambling in the Philippines.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro earlier said that such actions are being carefully studied to see whether these will affect the economy and the public.

The Health chief explained that addiction to online gambling is hastened by the fact that individuals can now gamble from their smartphones.

“Open mo lang ang cellphone mo, may gambling na kaagad. Open ka ng social media mo, may gambling advertisement so sa akin, mental health issue to.”

(Just turn on your cellphones and you’ll immediately see online gambling. On social media, there are a lot of gambling advertisements. This is a mental health issue.)

Despite this, groups like the Licensed Online Gaming Operators in the Philippines said that “prohibition does not erase online gaming”.

The group called for stronger regulation instead of a total ban.


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