Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, and Mariz Umali, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:30 AM (PHL Time). For more videos from Unang Balita, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/unangbalita.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 The World Health Organization considers gambling disorder as a disease and public health concern.
00:07 In the Philippines, not a few people have tried and been addicted to gambling,
00:12 from gambling to gambling to no longer having a place to live.
00:16 Here is the special report of Darlene Cai.
00:28 From morning to night, Lichelle has been using her cell phone for 24 years.
00:34 She doesn't text or scroll on social media.
00:37 She gambles on online gambling sites.
00:41 In 2020, someone invited me to be an agent in a gambling site.
00:52 I was told that the income is high, I was not satisfied with the commission,
00:58 I was even trained to play.
01:01 She plays card games and slot machines online.
01:05 What she should try became a daily routine until she couldn't stop.
01:12 At first, I was just gambling.
01:15 I was happy when I won 500.
01:18 Then, when I lost, I was chasing the loss.
01:22 When I lost 1,000, I cashed in 5,000.
01:26 I lost 5,000, 10,000 until I reached 100,000.
01:30 That's more than my income.
01:32 Now, she has been gambling for 4 years.
01:37 She lost 1.5 million pesos.
01:41 She lost all her income as an online seller.
01:45 She is also in debt.
01:47 Her husband is about to divorce her.
01:50 She is about to leave her child because of gambling.
01:54 Sometimes, I hide in the bathroom.
01:56 I play there.
01:58 When I lose, I get hot.
02:00 Idoi is 26 years old.
02:05 She is also addicted to online gambling.
02:08 She lost more than 1 million pesos since September last year.
02:14 She is happy because her dopamine level is so high.
02:18 She is like, "Ah, okay. Let's keep going."
02:23 Eventually, you win that amount.
02:26 But whatever she wins, she will pay for it.
02:31 When the salary comes, I will still pay for it.
02:37 Even if I have to pay, I will still risk the money.
02:41 She is also in debt from illegal online lending apps for her desperate gambling.
02:47 Gambling addiction is not new to the world.
02:53 In fact, the World Health Organization recognizes gambling disorder as a disease and a public health concern.
03:00 It was introduced in 1975.
03:02 It is included in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases.
03:06 What's different from what's happening now is that gamblers are able to play their cards according to a gambling addiction support group.
03:15 Convenience.
03:17 She can play her cards on her phone.
03:20 She can play her cards in the workplace.
03:24 Not like before, you really go to gambling places.
03:30 Aside from the abundance, gamblers are getting younger.
03:36 There are even minors.
03:39 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation of PagCor is the one who manages gambling in the country.
03:45 Based on their monitoring, more people are gambling online.
03:51 In the latest data, PagCor's earnings increased by 41.72% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2023.
04:01 The largest percentage came from electronic games or games or gambling that are made online,
04:08 such as e-bingo, electronic casino, e-billiards, and others.
04:13 According to PagCor Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tenco, they expect that the next few years,
04:19 the largest percentage of the agency's earnings will come from the e-game sector.
04:24 This started during the pandemic, because many people are looking for a place to stay.
04:30 Just like traditional gambling,
04:33 anyone who wants to get an e-game or casino license from PagCor must get it.
04:39 Anything that happens in the website, it needs to go through PagCor first.
04:43 You need to approve the PagCor and all.
04:45 The problem is that only 32 e-games have a PagCor license.
04:50 For online gambling sites that have a PagCor license,
04:54 the player is required to provide their information.
04:57 It is strictly prohibited for minors, government officials, and former gamblers.
05:03 But it is impossible to monitor online gambling sites that are not licensed.
05:09 That's why PagCor is blocking illegal gambling sites so that they cannot be accessed in the Philippines.
05:16 Aside from PagCor, PNP also does its own monitoring.
05:21 The problem is that many e-casinos or online gambling sites operate in other countries,
05:27 so it is difficult to catch or close them.
05:31 Sometimes, we can catch the hosting of their websites in other countries.
05:38 Even some lawmakers are now in charge of online gambling.
05:43 There are bills in the Senate and House of Representatives that prohibit online gambling in the country.
05:49 In the Senate, there is also a bill that prohibits the ads or content that promote online gambling.
05:57 There are also resolutions in Congress that want to investigate the spread of online gambling in the country
06:03 and how it is allowed to enter the country by minors.
06:06 Legal or not, Lichelle and Edoy really want to stop gambling.
06:13 They woke up after losing a lot of money.
06:17 Lichelle has been stopped for a month.
06:20 I prayed to the Lord.
06:22 I said, "Lord, help me. I can't go back."
06:27 You spend more money than you earn from gambling.
06:33 And don't risk gambling.
06:37 PagCor has a program for compulsive gamblers or gamblers who are addicted to gambling.
06:42 The player can ban themselves from e-games.
06:47 Their relatives can also do this.
06:50 There are also support groups and recovery coaches like Regan.
06:55 Honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness.
06:58 I can change and stop.
07:01 And then, in terms of outside factors, usually, loved ones are helping.
07:12 Before gambling, think that money is not the only thing that is being wasted.
07:17 Sometimes, it's life and family.
07:21 This is the first news.
07:24 Darlene Cai for GMA Integrated News.
07:29 [music]