Philippine Health Minister Ted Herbosa publicly stated on July 16 that online gambling addiction should be considered a mental health issue, its secrecy and prevalence have caused serious harm to families and society.
Herbosa pointed out at the "Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Program Forum" in Taguig City that with the widespread popularity of smartphones and social media, the accessibility threshold of gambling platforms is continuously decreasing, making the public almost always able to access gambling content, which complicates the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.
"Gambling is not merely entertainment, but a behavioral addiction, a mental disorder," Herbosa emphasized, "Many families are now fractured because online gambling is too accessible."
Herbosa's remarks come as the presidential palace is studying whether to completely ban online gambling. Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro previously confirmed that the government is weighing the economic and social impacts of a potential ban.
However, some industry insiders and legal online gambling platforms believe that a complete ban might backfire, instead suggesting strengthening regulation and public education to combat illegal platforms and guide users to participate rationally.
Despite differing opinions from various sectors of society, Herbosa's clear definition of online gambling as a public mental health crisis may provide a basis for future policy shifts and legislative interventions, also prompting more government departments to include it in their intervention and treatment systems.
