Jamayka Rhose Pascual

The Department of Health (DOH) has raised an alarm over gambling addiction, calling it a growing mental health crisis that now endangers both individual well-being and public safety.

Photos Courtesy of REUTERS/Erik De Castro/Quartz Media Network.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said gambling, once dismissed as a mere vice, must now be treated as a behavioral disorder that requires immediate and comprehensive government response.

“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,” Herbosa said in an interview on July 16.

The health chief noted that the surge in online gambling access has made the addiction harder to detect and control.

“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,” Herbosa said.

He also warned that the consequences of gambling addiction are no longer private or isolated.

In one of the more disturbing findings, Herbosa revealed that public transport drivers have been involved in fatal accidents after gambling all night and falling asleep behind the wheel.

“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,” he stated.

In response, the health chief expressed openness to either a full ban on online gambling or the enforcement of stricter regulations.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin, strictly regulate or if possible, i-ban na lang totally,” Herbosa expressed.

The DOH warning aligns with growing concern among lawmakers who are now considering various legislative measures to address the problem.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Raffy Tulfo have both filed bills seeking to ban online gambling, block access to gambling apps, and prohibit payment platforms from processing gambling-related transactions.

In the House of Representatives, Akbayan Party-list lawmakers Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla also filed House Bill 1351, or the “Kontra E-Sugal” bill. pushing for player protection policies, betting loss caps, and ad regulation.