E-sabong Addiction ‘Forces’ Woman to Pawn Her Child to Repay Debt

E-sabong has long been one of the most popular activities in the Philippines and the pandemic really highlighted the need for more regulation in the sector. The country made a quick course correction to regulate betting on cock fights and introduced online wagers, hoping to clamp down on illegal gambling but also bolster its own ailing finances and allocate more to health care.

E-Sabong Greenlight Backfires in Many Ways
Previous reports that people have been disappearing because of or after attending e-sabong contests also surfaced in the country, making many aware of the underbelly of the industry, but the decision of a mother to trade away her baby to cover her e-sabong debt is by far the worst report associated with this gambling activity.

The unnamed woman had an outstanding debt of PHP 45,000 or $860 according to Pasig News Today, the media outlet that first reported on the horrific situation. The woman agreed to transfer paternity to the parties she owed a debt to avoid detection and any legal repercussions. However, remorseful of her decision, the woman reached out to Pasig News Today and launched an appeal with the broker who had taken her baby.

The woman reportedly tried to retrieve her child back but failed, as the person whom she had previously contacted over Facebook would no longer respond. The despicable accident has gone viral on social media with the woman unable to find her daughter and police stepping in to investigate.

Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/e-sabong-addiction-forces-woman-to-pawn-her-child-to-repay-debt/