Criticism by CBCP head towards Pagcor over promotion of online gambling

Catholic Leader Calls for Ban on Online Gambling in the Philippines

Cardinal Pablo David, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), has criticised the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) for its role in the prevalence of online gambling addiction in the country.

In a statement on September 5, 2025, Cardinal David accused Pagcor of violating its own charter by pushing for online gambling. He compared Pagcor to a government agency acting as the biggest pusher of online addiction.

The CBCP has described online gambling as a "deep and pervasive moral problem, disguised in the guise of entertainment and technology." Cardinal David has been a vocal critic of the proliferation of online gambling, stating that it is accessible to people of all ages without the need to visit casinos.

In recent weeks, a petition requesting a preliminary injunction against all Pagcor-certified online gambling websites was filed with the Supreme Court of the Philippines. However, the search results provided do not explicitly identify who submitted this petition. It is not clear if any concerned citizens have taken action to petition the Supreme Court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Pagcor-accredited online gambling sites.

Cardinal David has called for a total ban on online gambling in the country and for all forms of online gambling to be outlawed. He has stated that it is unacceptable for Pagcor to continue promoting online gambling.

The CBCP's stance against online gambling is based on moral concerns, as they view it as a problem disguised as entertainment and technology. Cardinal David has not specified any particular concerned citizens who might petition the Supreme Court for a TRO.

This is not the first time Cardinal David has criticised Pagcor. In the past, he has accused Pagcor of playing a significant role in the prevalence of online gambling addiction in the country.

As the debate over online gambling continues, it remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will take action on the petition and whether the Philippine government will take steps to ban online gambling in the country.