Kara David GMA News documentary reveals the consequences of online gambling addiction as a Filipino man recounts his experience losing millions of pesos.
A haunting GMA News documentary has shed light on the dark side of online gambling, as a Filipino man, Justin, shares his harrowing tale of addiction and loss. What started as a casual pastime quickly spiraled into a full-blown gambling addiction that nearly destroyed his life.
Justin's journey into the world of online gambling began with simple bets on horse races. However, the thrill of potential winnings soon led him to more complex card games and eventually to high-stakes online casinos.
“I learned different card games. When I got older, I started going to physical casinos,” Justin confessed in Kara Docs, an online documentary series hosted by veteran Filipino journalist Kara David.
The allure of quick wins proved too tempting for Justin, who found himself losing thousands of pesos in a single day.
“As in uubusin lahat sa ‘yo lahat nung una P20,000 sa isang araw hanggang umabot na hundred thousand o milyon (I would lose everything, sometimes P20,000 in a day, up to a hundred thousand or a million),” he revealed. As his losses mounted, he resorted to desperate measures, selling his assets and even pawning his own jewelry and car to fund his gambling habit.
It got to a point where he his partner left him. “Dahil siguro nakikita niya kahit anong ganda ng negosyo kung ganiyan ang kasama ko. Pagkakamali ko yon (Maybe it’s because my partner could see that no matter now good business is, it’s pointless if you have a partner like this. I accept my fault for that).”
While he decided to let go of land-based casinos, he shifted to online casinos. Justin confessed that he would often bet as much as P80,000 in one go.
Psychiatrist Randy Dellosa, who was interviewed for the documentary, explained that compulsive gambling is often characterized by a “chasing losses” mentality, where individuals become obsessed with recouping their losses. "They want more than what they should be having. Everything is lost and that's where they get discontent," the psychiatrist said.
The documentary also highlighted the prevalence of illegal online gambling sites in the Philippines, despite government efforts to regulate the industry.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has approved legitimate online gaming platforms, but thousands of unregulated sites continue to operate.
Justin’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gambling addiction. His experience highlights the need for increased awareness and support for individuals struggling with this problem. As the psychiatrist noted, gambling disorder can be considered a mental health condition with hereditary factors.
Read related article: Trans Beauty Queen Lars Pacheco Lost P5M in Online Gambling
Kommentare