Diocese urges Marcos Jr. to ban online gambling

The Diocese of San Carlos and Bacolod have urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose a total ban on online gambling ahead of his State of the Nation Address.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action, likened online gambling to a 'silent virus' targeting the youth and vulnerable populations, warning of its devastating consequences including addiction and family breakdown.

The dioceses called for criminalization of all forms of online gambling, tighter regulation of payment systems and platforms, and protection for young people from manipulative advertising that normalizes the vice.

They also pushed for a coordinated response involving government, schools, families, and the Church to address gambling as a spiritual, mental, and economic issue.

Alminaza instructed clergy and lay leaders within both dioceses to raise awareness about the dangers of online gambling using every available platform.