Transgender Beauty Queen Lars Pacheco Admits Losing P5 million in Online Gambling

Lars Pacheco, a transgender beauty queen, has openly discussed her battle with online gambling addiction, candidly stating, “Naging makapal ‘yung mukha ko” (I became shameless).

In a viral Facebook video titled “How I lost 5 million in Online Gambling,” which has garnered over 5.7 million views, Pacheco reflected on how her gambling habit began in 2021.

In the video, she recounted her initial foray into online sabong (cockfighting) through a money app. “Well I’m super duper afraid to create this video, but baka maging help. So, it started in 2021 [sa] online sabong in a money app. So, I don’t have [an] idea kung paano siya laruin” (Well, I’m super afraid to create this video, but it might help. So, it started in 2021 with online cockfighting in a money app. I had no idea how to play). She explained that she got interested while watching others in her home engage in the game, leading her to give it a try herself.

Initially, Pacheco was uncertain about how to place her bets, choosing simply between the colors blue and red based on her feelings of luck. “Dahil nga wala ako alam, namimili lang ako ng color blue or color red. So, meron o wala” (Since I had no idea, I just picked color blue or color red. So, there were wins or losses). As she became more involved, she learned to analyze the game more critically, eventually losing a staggering PhP600,000.

As time went on, Pacheco began to feel more confident in her gambling skills. “So, habang tumatagal, feeling ko nagiging expert na ako” (So, as time went on, I felt like I was becoming an expert). She started to observe the physical attributes of the roosters, focusing on their speed and agility. “To cut the long story short, naging adik ako sa sabong” (To cut a long story short, I became addicted to cockfighting).

Her gambling addiction intensified when she transitioned to a baccarat gaming app. “Naging baccarat queen naman ako. And sabi ko, mas madali dito kasi dalawa lang ‘yung pagpi-pilian, banker at player” (I became a baccarat queen. I said it was easier here because there were only two choices, banker and player). This new form of gambling became serious for her as it was directly linked to her bank account. “So, every time na QR code lang ‘yung ii-scan mo maka–cash in na siya dun sa gaming app” (So, every time, you just needed to scan the QR code to cash in to the gaming app).

Pacheco shared her experience with transaction history on the app, describing it as alarming. “Kasi kulay red, ang kulay ng deposit. Puro ako deposit, deposit, deposit, wala ako nawi-withdraw” (Because red is the color of deposits. I only had deposits, deposits, deposits; I wasn’t withdrawing anything). Her gambling escalated to the point where her bank account faced limitations. “So, tatawag ako dito sa friend ko, Jonas, ‘Lexa pa-transfer n’yo nga ako, kasi, limit na ako’” (So, I would call my friend Jonas, ‘Lexa, can you transfer me some money? I’ve hit my limit’).

Eventually, Pacheco realized her behavior was problematic, leading her to deceive friends about her financial situation. “Dito ko na-realized na I met evil in the form of gambling, kasi, natuto ako magsinungaling” (Here I realized that I met evil in the form of gambling, because I learned to lie). She confessed to telling friends she had reached her cash-in limit while hiding her actual financial status. “Naging makapal yung mukha ko” (I became shameless).

Before concluding her video, Pacheco offered a warning to others engaged in online gambling, urging them to stop while they could. “Imagine 2021 I started wala pang mga social media influencer na nagpo-promote ng sugal” (Imagine, in 2021 when I started, there were no social media influencers promoting gambling). She noted how easily she was influenced by small amounts sent for gambling, asking, “How much more ngayon na budgeted na and advertised na ‘tong mga sugal na ‘to?” (How much more now that these games are budgeted and advertised?).

Pacheco’s intention in sharing her story was to help others recognize the risks associated with gambling. “Alam ko mahihirapan ka, alam ko nanghihinayang ka sa lahat ng mga napatalo mo” (I know it will be hard for you, and I know you feel regret for everything you lost). She encouraged acceptance of losses, stating, “Tanggapin mo na hindi na kayang bawiin lahat ng yun” (Accept that you cannot recover everything).

Lars Pacheco gained recognition after participating in the “Miss Q&A” pageant on It’s Showtime in 2018, where she finished as the second runner-up. Last year, she also made it to the Top 6 of the Miss International Queen pageant.

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