Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David has strongly criticized the government for allowing the proliferation of online gambling in the country, calling it a “madness” that exposes both the young and old to round-the-clock betting.
In a passionate Facebook post, Cardinal David questioned the logic of legalizing online gambling while feigning concern over illegal offshore operations. “Who needs casinos when anyone can now gamble from their living room or even from a child’s pocket via a smartphone?” he asked.
He also condemned celebrities and influencers promoting online gambling, likening them to “pushers” for unscrupulous billionaires preying on the vulnerable. “They rent themselves out to promote gambling—hooking the innocent and desperate in the vast digital sea of vice,” he wrote.
The remarks come as Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pushes for tighter regulation of online gambling. His proposed legislation includes:
- Raising the legal betting age from 18 to 21
- Setting a minimum bet of P10,000 and a top-up limit of P5,000
- Banning direct links between gambling sites and digital finance apps
- Requiring biometric verification for age compliance
- Prohibiting gambling ads near schools, churches, and government offices
- Banning celebrities from endorsing online gambling platforms
Gatchalian emphasized that regulation is preferable to a total ban, which could push operations underground.