A mother had to sell her infant, while a young guy lost nearly all of his family’s savings, all because they couldn’t break free from their “e-sabong” addiction.
This is not surprising, according to psychologist Dr. Randy Dellosa, because gambling, particularly e-sabong, is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome.
“In the Philippines, sabong is very culturally acceptable and permitted. [It] may be addicting because of the culture and festivity. You’re not just coming there to gamble; there’s an entire culture and environment you’re addicted to. Your buddies are there; you’re addicted to the noise,” Dellosa said.
Dellosa further connects e-sabong addiction to its accessibility, citing the fact that more people are betting online, resulting in bigger debts and stakes.
“It’s easier to collect the money and play,” he explained, “and it’s also quite convenient because you don’t have to travel [to the actual cockfighting pits].”
A woman recently went popular on social media after pleading with her daughter’s “buyers” to return her child. She sold her own child to pay off her obligations due to her e-sabong addiction.
She sold her child for P45,000, but when she changed her mind, she was unable to reach the buyer
Role modeling, especially when a person has family members or relatives who are also addicted to cockfighting, is another reason that may lead to e-sabong addiction.
Despite the difficulty of managing gambling addiction, Dellosa still recommends rehabilitation to aid with the problem.
People who want to get rid of their addictions should be cautious about relapses, especially if they have a natural craving for something they’ve been missing out on for a long time
“Aside from treatment, what really helps is family support, spiritual renewal, a deeper sense of purpose in life, and staying away from anything that reminds the person of sabong.
John Robin Manalili, 20, stated he wished to leave e-sabong for his parents in a TeleRadyo interview. His addiction cost him up to P1 million.
Meanwhile, authorities are still looking into the disappearance of 34 cockfighting fans known as “sabungeros.”
Users can readily access “E-sabong” via their smartphones, with transactions done through online-cash-apps
There is no restriction over who is allowed or not allowed to participate in gambling because there is no need to physically attend to a place.
Atong Ang, the owner of an online sabong license, revealed in a recent interview that the business generates at least P3 billion in gross revenue per month…
