A gambling problem?

The last week has seen online feuds erupt around celebrities who endorse gaming platforms, as voyeur patrollers have taken it upon themselves to police the wholesomeness of public figures who support gambling. Of course, since this is the Philippines, the argument will not die down easily. It will merely gain momentum like the next tidal wave of bile we rain down on each other.

Sports betting in this country most likely began with cockfighting, a Filipino pastime since before Spanish occupation. So robust was the practice that the government eventually created a game fowl commission, which was originally the Games and Amusements Board. Eventually, revenue potential of sabong became so great that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR got involved, as they are one of the mightiest to earn revenue for the nation. With various colonizers came other sports and games of chance, which have become a universal Hail Mary to great wealth, or so many seem to think.

This writer was recently on a broadcast produced by a gaming platform to posit possible outcomes of an international basketball league. It was a unique experience, and we saw that, for regular bettors, there are multipliers and other add-ons to make it more interesting while the games are ongoing. PAGCOR and even those selfsame gaming sites issue warnings against overdoing it. It will never be a get rich quick plan, but merely a diversion. And with the endless overflow of sporting events, it will always be a temptation.

On the other side of the coin, this writer once met a group of recreational gamblers who made the rounds of casinos nightly. They had strict rules for themselves: they stuck to blackjack, set a budget, bet conservatively, and quit when the money ran out or the clock hit 10 p.m., whichever came first. It was budgeted entertainment for them, a controlled shot of adrenaline. And they did net a small, five-figure payoff each month, at their own risk.

Gambling is a choice. The tools for it are there, much like gun violence or drug use on one hand, and sports or travel on the other. It can be entertaining and release stress, or become an obsession or addiction that destroys families. Countries like the US make it easy to own a gun, as an enticement to purchase as many as you want, under the pretext of self-defense. But that is no reason to do it. Does personal safety balance out the possible loss of life? Does the high justify the potential economic and emotional stress?

So does the Philippines have a gambling problem? The answer is no. But we do need to exercise discernment, maturity and responsibility. The odds are always against you. It’s not akin to the sales philosophy that says each no gets you to the next yes. The odds of winning are always miniscule, which makes it a thrill for some, and a terror for others. As a rule, if you allocate only the amount that you would for other forms of entertainment, then you’ll probably be okay.

Gambling can be fun, but only if you can control yourself.