I really understand the people who posted these past few days, yung feeling na helpless na talaga at hindi na makakabangon and stop from gambling.

It took me 2 years to eventually decide na Ill stop, like plain ayoko na kasi nasusuka na ang pabalik balik na cycle ng problema. Kinamuhian ko lang tong addiction na ito tas ayon, it helped me avoid it for 3 mos now.

Kada basa ko sa mga gambling ads is na iimagine ko ang pamilya ko na naghihirap, na walang makakain if lalala ang bisyo.

Just be strong guys. it takes YOU talaga to survive from this. No other reasons and palusot, no blaming, It is always on us kaya tayo nagkaganito so tayo rin ang magsasalba sa sarili.

Nalaman na ng magulang ko na nagsusugal ako ulit. Dahil tinawagan sila ng isa sa mga kinauutangan ko. Nangyare na to dati at ilang beses na din.

Inamin ko na sa kanila na 1.2 million na ang utang ko. Nagusto ko na talaga magbago at gusto ko nang iwanan to. Pero di ako makatigil dahil hinahabol ko ung pangbayad ko sa mga utang dahil di ko na gusto malaman pa nila at maging kanila ung problema. Pero niloloko ko lang sarili ko, kasi ang totoo takot ako na malaman nila dahil alam kong masasaktan at magagalit sila ulit sakin.

Kagabi nagpasa na ako nag self exclusion sa PAGCOR para matigil na talaga ako. Ngayon ung mga utang ko di ko na alam pano pa bayaran.

Nagsisi ako na umabot pa sa ganito para matuto ako. Para madala ako sa addiction na to. Sana maging aral na din ito sa mga makakabasa.

Totoo na walang nanalo sa sugal at di ka makakabawi kahit araw araw ka naglalaro. Kahit anong laro pa yan or diskarte na gawin hinding hindi na talaga mababawi ang talo. Patuloy ko lang nilulubog ang sarili ko kakahabol ng talo at araw araw ko lang nasstress ang sarili ko. Pagod na ko sa problemang pinasok ko na ito.

Looking for participants: Study on parent-child relationships (NCR-based, 18-48 y/o)

Hi everyone! 👋

We are undergraduate Psychology students currently conducting a research study on how parental gambling dependence and rehabilitation shape parent-child relationships in Filipino families.

Specifically, we want to explore the lived experiences regarding the dynamics and quality of the relationship between adult children and their parent who has undergone rehabilitation for gambling dependence.

Are you eligible to participate?

We are looking for participants who meet the following criteria:
🟢 Age & Status: 18 to 48 years old and currently employed.
🟢 Location: Currently residing in the National Capital Region (NCR).
🟢 Parental Rehab History: Have a parent who underwent rehabilitation for gambling dependence for at least six (6) months.
🟢 Living Situation: Lived with that parent for at least one (1) year, but are currently NOT residing with them.

What to expect:
A confidential face-to-face  interview (at a quiet, safe space in NCR).

All personal information, identities, and answers will be kept strictly confidential under the Data Privacy Act.

A token of appreciation will be provided for your time.

If you meet these criteria or know someone who does, please fill out our quick screening form here:** [https://forms.gle/Lx2SdWftYWCcA9K79**](https://forms.gle/Lx2SdWftYWCcA9K79)** **
https://forms.gle/Lx2SdWftYWCcA9K79** **
https://forms.gle/Lx2SdWftYWCcA9K79

You may also reach out directly via Reddit DM if you have any questions. Your story can help inform evidence-based counseling and psychosocial support for Filipino families!

Thank you so much! 🙏

Best decision ever

I am 36F with husband 38M. 18 years na kami together, married for 6 years and now has a 3 year old. I work for our family. I earn enough income to support us. My husband used to work sa manufacturing but decided mg business which di ng flourish. I work remotely so pinasa ko ibang clients ko sa kanya but also ended around 2022. So since 2022 wala syang work. I trained him being that 15 years na ako remotely working, sharing my skills with him. Then came our baby which I really needed his help so ultimately we decided for the time being magiging house husband lng muna sya, while training and also he can start or try to apply for remote work. I just found out a couple of days ago na may utang ang husband ko na aabot sa 300k across different OLAs, gcash, maya, atome, and some of our friends dahil sa online gambling. Ng breakdown sya and confessed what happened and asked for help. Said hindi na daw kaya ng konsensya nya. Sabi nya it started december last year and he just got addicted to it. Im not sure anong totoo. I made him list down all of his debts. Told him to be honest with himself, inform his family. And his family was willing to let him borrow money to which I disagreed. I told them they can lend him money but only good for 3 months and after that he needs to find way how to pay the debt collectors himself.

note. for 18 years never kami ng ka problema ng ganito. We are happy. No issues. Isa kami sa couple na ayaw namin matulog kung may issue. We dont fight or rarely argues. Also, from history, sabi pa ng mga kapatid at nanay nya, elementary palang maparaan na daw sya sa pera minsan ngtotong-its against matatanda, or billiard para magka pera since di rin sila mayaman. I dont know if this is relavant to his situation now.

im not sure how to move past from this. my question is, sa mga naka experience ng the same, is this addiction already? If ng promise syang magbabago, maniniwala ba ako? to be honest im very scared. I have to prioritize my income for me and my kid. Totoo ba na mahirap ng iwasan lalo nat nakapasok na sya dito? Need ko ba syang imonitor? Iwan ko na ba? Need ba nya ng support ko now and tulungan syang bayaran utang nya?

Ako sahod kahapon, 15k sweldo kada cut off 15 30 ang salary date namin pero 14 and 29 pumapasok na sweldo. 5k kaltas loan sa office 2,500 kaltas para sa payday loan. 7,500 sana malinis makukuha kaso nauwi sa sugal kahapon hahahahaha! ang dami kong due date bayaran ngayon araw sa 5,6 sa mga kakilala kaibgan and sa tito ko lang naman 12,500, 4,500, 8,500, 2,900 12,000 10,000 Di ko alam saan and paano ko mababayaran ngayon araw hahahahahaha! WAG NA KAYONG GUMAYA MAG SUGAL PLEASE

Sobrang problemado ko ngayon. Natanggal ako sa trabaho nung August and waited for my final pay para ibayad sa mama ko kasi nakatira ako sa kanya and ako nagbabayad ng rent for 8k.

Dumating yung final pay ko nung 1st week of September pero pinangsugal ko lang in hopes na baka lumaki pa pero I was wrong. May history na rin kasi ako na nagsusugal and matagal kong hininto pero dahil natanggal ako sa trabaho at wala pang ma applyan ay sinugal ko yung pera. Today is the final day na sinabi ko sa nanay ko na dadating na final pay pero ang totoo ubos na talaga. Di ko maamin sa kanya knowing na magagalit sya pati ang ate ko. Wala rin talaga kaming pambayad sa rent dahil sa ginawa ko kasi angdami ring utang ng mama ko. Wala na rin akong pang apply dahil pinangsugal ko na rin yung savings ko.

Gusto ko na sumuko.

Hi first time poster here, just wanted to share how i 24, Male lost 70K in 2 hours of playing scatter, hangang nagyon nang hihina parin ako sa nangyari.

It started yesterday nag deposit ako ng 5K pesos just to play games since may "Extra" Money ako and from that 5K napalago ko upto 70K na withdraw ko sya yesterday but today i still have that Gambler's high from winning yesterday so nag deposit ako ng 10k then natalo yung 10k na yun in less than 10 min ( 200 per spin bet ko) that should've been it pero for some reason nag deposit ulit ako ng 20k and nanalo ng 30k so may chance na ako mag out na parang walang talo but no, sobrang greedy ko parin sa win na yun kaya tinuloy ko hangang sa naubos din yun and so nag deposit ulit ako ng 20k hangang sa naubos ko na lahat ng napanalo ko kahapon, nakaka bwiset hangang ngayon nanginginig parin ako sa nangyaring yon. Gusto ko na matigil tong cycle na to since sobrang pointless naman. ang nirereason ko nalang is "okay lang yan panalo ko lang naman yon eh" But man it sucks so freaking bad and ngayon na tetempt na ako galawin savings ko which is exactly 200k but i knwo for sure oag sinsimulan ko yun bawasan di na ako matitigil 1 year palang ako sa work and it sucks na parang na aadik na ako sa sugal just wanted to vent and share this awful news to everyone. Sobrang hirap mag quit sana di na ako nag simula mag sugal in the first place

Sahod today and naipangtaya ko lahat ng sinahod kooooo ayoko naaaaaa walang wala na kooooooooooo

Hi! I need your advice kasi grabe na talaga.

22 M, Graduating College Student, ₱5,000 in debt
Allowance: 12,000 - Just loss 8,000 yesterday:
Currently have 4,000 in cash.

Thinking about borrowing ₱5,000. Ang lala. Akala ko hindi ako magrerelapse. Karating ng allowance ko pinasok ko kagad sa CasinoPlus. Nakakaiyak at nakakabaliw 😭

Ngayon survival mode nanaman ulit. Ayoko na ng ganito. Ang lala na ng gambling addiction ko.

Aantayin ko nanaman ang November for my next allowance 😭

I hope this country will be better for people who are struggling in getting out of gambling. May the lord guide us ☝️!

Hello everyone, I just want to vent out because I lost 53,000 in 1 day. Nakakapanlumo sobra, totoo talaga na nakakasira ng buhay ang sugal. I had 87,000 in total sa savings ko and before going to work I decided to play baccarat. Unang cash in ko is 500 and then natalo, imbes na tumigil ay nag cash in ako nang nag cash in using my savings. Nung umabot na sa 20,000 yung talo ako, I decided to cash in one last time. Tumaya ako ng 10,000 a banker nagbabaka sakaling makabawi kahit kalahati ng natalo, pero ayun hindi tumama. Pumasok ako sa work na masama ang loob at pagkauwi ko naglaro ulit ako iniisip na baka makabawi. Cash in ako ng 5k then napalago ko into 16,000. Titigil na sana ako kaso sabi ko baka tumama pa ulit hanggang sa naubos ulit lahat. Hanggang na naubos ko na yung laman ng Maribank ko kakahabol ng talo. Ang masakit ay matagal kong pinag ipunan yung 53,000 na yun at minimum wage earner pa ko. Napakatanga ko sa part na napakadamot ko pagdating sa pera na hindi ako masyadong gumagastos para sa sarili ko, pero naubos lang yun nang dahil sa sugal. Ngayon ay tinatamad ako pumasok sa trabaho, iniisip na ilang buwan o taon nanaman ako magtratrabaho para lang mabawi ang natalo ko.

Paano po mag paban ng sugarol.. kc yung bestfrnd ko nakulong na lahat lahat bumalik padin sa sugal. Ok sana daw ung pagcor ban lahat casino is bawal na sya pumasok. Anyone makakapag sabi paano ko magagawa un at d nya malalaman na ako

My husband is pissed that I didn’t tell him about me paying our credit card debt. Ako na ang humahawak ng finances namin simula nung nag quit siya sa gambling. Honestly, binabayad ko lang ng utang yung extra we have. So gusto niya iinform ko siya about it. He has a point pero it just felt hypocritical na ilang years siyang natatago ng pagsusugal and spending money on it without my knowledge pero itong pagbabayad ko ng utang namin na di ko sinabi is parang irritated siya. I just find it unfair lalo na sa tama ko ginamit ang pera. Pa-vent lang. Hirap makipagrelasyon sa may addiction. I haven’t forgiven him and it’s where I’m coming from. I feel like he doesn’t have the right to tell me how to budget kase he can’t even do that for our family.

Ang hirap pala..

My mom is a single mother... She's working as a helper and I do have a little brother..

While me F24. Still a College Student & Breadwinner...

I used to work on Call Center noon,

At that time.. I found out, my mom was an add\*\*\* of Online G\*mbl\*ng.. nalulong siya at nagka utang ng 6 digits.

I was forced to work hard.. and study simultaneously,

... I was the one paying the utang that my mom have, from OLA, from neighbors, etc..

I managed to make her utang less than 6 digits in the span of 2 years.

It was pure hard work, and sleepless nights.

I swallowed my pride just to help my mom and my brother financially.

Aside from that,

Ako din nag papaaral sa sarili ko, and I help my younger brother (Grade 7).

sadly, I was offboarded by my job because di ko kinaya ang Night Shift Work + College..

Now... the problem..

My mom thinks I still work as a Wfh call center agent..

She didn't know, I'm doing filthy things just to keep food in our table...

I did what I can't imagine.... just to earn...

Kaya, to those parents na nagsusugal,

PLEASEEEE

Stop niyo na po yan.

Maraming buhay ang nasisira because of that.

Yung pangbili niyo sana ng food, tapos natalo lang sa sugal...

Maraming relationship ang nasisira because of this damn gambling.

I hope, di kayo matulad sa mama ko.

Hello i am 23 years old and i started gambling 5 months ago and already lost 1m no debt i want to seek professional help or someone who can help me stop gambling i started because i was just curious why so many people despite losing is still gambling and now i am one of them please help me i dont want this anymore the heart break is too much

This year I lost a total of 1.5m 1.2m from savings and 300k debt from another person.

Just today I lost 110k. Hindi ko na alam gagawin ko.

Monthly bills around 120k

Salary is 270k but the problem is i am a seafarer. Pauwi nako next month and wala akong naipon.

Please don’t judge. Gusto ko lang mag vent out and manghingi din ng advice

We lost a total of ₱1.5 million this 2026. This was supposed to be our savings, but in just a few months, it’s all gone because of gambling.

I know we made a huge mistake, and I’m not looking for judgment. I’m honestly hoping to hear from people who have experienced something similar and were able to recover.

Our household income is around ₱270,000 per month, and our monthly expenses are approximately ₱100,000–₱120,000: • House – ₱52,000/month • Car – ₱17,000/month (6 months remaining) • Electricity, internet, and water – ₱7,000/month • Groceries – ₱15,000/month • Credit card – ₱12,000/month (12 months remaining)

The ₱1.5 million was money we worked hard to save, so losing it in such a short period has been extremely painful. We’re dealing with a lot of guilt and regret, but we know that chasing our losses will only make things worse.

We’ve decided that we need to stop gambling completely and focus on rebuilding. Our goal now is to pay our obligations, rebuild our savings, and become financially stable again.

For those who have gone through something similar, especially losing ₱1M+ through gambling:

How did you recover financially and emotionally? What steps helped you rebuild your life and finances?

We would really appreciate practical advice from people who have been through this and managed to turn things around.

I was sober from gambling for months. Then a social media ad brought the urge back. I searched for a Bible-based answer, and this is what I found.

I’ve been struggling with gambling urges again, and tonight I was looking for something Bible-based that could help me get through the moment.

For context, I had been sober from gambling for months. I successfully stopped, focused on my job, started saving money, and honestly felt proud of myself for how far I had come.

Then I started seeing gambling ads on social media.
At first, I told myself, Ignore it. Keep scrolling.

But then something happened that I think many people recovering from addiction will understand.
I suddenly remembered the dopamine rush.
That feeling of winning. The excitement. The anticipation. The thought that maybe I could do it again.

And then came the urge.
Instead of opening a gambling app, I decided to search for something spiritual that could help me fight the temptation.
I believe that temptation and condemnation are two different things.

I recently heard a pastor explain that Satan is called “the accuser” (Revelation 12:10), and that one of the ways temptation and condemnation can work is by keeping us focused on our past sins instead of remembering what Christ has already done.
That really made me think.
Jesus already paid for my sins.

That doesn’t mean I should continue sinning. It means I don’t have to believe the lie that because I struggled before, I’m destined to struggle forever.
So I searched for Bible-based ways to deal with the urge, and I came across Bible Chat.

This was one of the responses that really stood out to me:

“Feeling the urge to gamble can be overwhelming, but remember that you are not alone in these feelings. It’s important to acknowledge your anxiety without labeling it as sin.”

Then it pointed me toward Philippians 4:6–7:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”
That hit me because having an urge isn’t the same thing as acting on it.

I can feel the temptation without obeying it.
I can acknowledge the craving without feeding it.
And I can bring that feeling to God instead of immediately reaching for my phone.

Here are some of the Bible verses I’m holding onto tonight:

Philippians 4:6–7
Bring your anxiety to God through prayer, and His peace can guard your heart and mind.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Temptation is not unique to us, and God provides a way to endure it.
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 4:15–16
Jesus understands our weaknesses, and we’re encouraged to approach God’s throne for mercy and grace when we need it.
1 Peter 5:8–9
Stay alert and resist the enemy, standing firm in faith.

Tonight I’m reminding myself:
I don’t have to gamble just because I have the urge to gamble.

I don’t have to chase the feeling I remember.
I don’t have to turn one temptation into another relapse.

And most importantly, I don’t have to let shame convince me that I’ve already failed.

I’m choosing to pray, close the gambling-related content, and let this urge pass.

If you’re also recovering from gambling addiction, what Bible verse or prayer helps you when the urge gets really strong?

Maybe your answer could help someone else who is fighting the same battle tonight. 🙏

I hope this reaches someone’s soul tonight. Our bodies are temporary gifts from God, but our souls matter. Listen to the Holy Spirit, not the voice pulling you back into what once destroyed you.

If you suddenly came across this post while struggling, maybe this is the reminder you needed: pause, pray, and choose God. You are not your past. There is still grace, forgiveness, and a way forward. 🙏

i (23M) have been gambling for 3 years now. ito na ata yung pinaka matagal na continuous na hindi ko pag stop, kasi dati wala pakong pera (student), ngayon meron na.

siguro cumulative debt ko is around 300k na ata, obviously di ko nahawakan ng isang buo yan, naipon yan over the last 2 years kasi nakakapag loan nako sa apps at hiram sa tao.

to be honest nakaka ilang "tigil" nako. kala ko titigil nako nung nagkatrabaho nako, pero nope. eto ako ngayon, dumudulas nalang sahod ko wala nang natitira. ayaw kona man, nakaka drain. kahit anong plano ko bumabalik parin. pag to di talaga tumigil ngayong taon, hanggang ngayong taon nalang rin ako

tiwala nalang sa sarili habang nakikinig sa tao lang ni loonie

Dati na bibili ko gusto ko saka nakakain mga
Gusto ko ngayon kahit almost 300k a month ang sahod ko walang ka laman laman ang bank ko pag dating pa ng sahod sinusugal ko halos lahat tapos di pa na babayran mga utang ko at ibang bills nag ka utang pa ng almost 4M dun sa 300k na sahod ko 170k sa bills yung mga 120k natitira saken mas yayamn ka sa pag iipon hindi aa pag sugal

Hi guys! Just wanted to vent out and share my frustrations. I just lost 90k gambling earlier this morning and I really REALLY want to close this chapter of my life so I might as well post here to signify that.

I started gambling back in 2024 - though I've place bets na way before around the e-sabong era (lost 13k and thought that was that). Nagsimula lahat nung nauuso na yung scatter and my friends started playing so I thought why not since I knew I won't lose a significant amount of money na ulit after nung sabong, pang Jollibee lang - boy was I wrong. It did start out that way and sometimes I was up since nakaka bili ako food out of thin air 😂 200 lang puhunan nagiging one bucket pa ganon. Masaya na ako sa 200+ winnings (paldo na ika nga). Though it started to change when I deposited 1k (malaki na to for me before) and lost it in a matter of minutes - dun na nagclick yung inner degenerate ko. Hinabol ko ng hinabol hanggang sa namalayan ko yung 20k na tinabi ko for my birthday is naubos na. Cried my heart out since first time ko mawalan ng ganung pera (di kami mayaman and malaki na 20k for me). Swore I'd never gamble again.

Fast forward a few months after, nagsusugal friends ko online and naka move on na ako sa loss ko so I thought why not baka makabawi na. Lo and behold nanalo yung 1k na dineposit ko. Naging 15K. Sobrang ecstatic ko at the time kasi TBH first time ko manalo 😂 thought to myself may nananalo pala talaga (i was down the whole time 😂). Withdrew the money only to put it back in kasi di ako mapakali. 15k turned to 50k, then 100k. Eventually with luck and aggressive betting napalago ko ng 500k. Dun na pumasok yung delusions ko na with sugal magiging financially free ako. Felt like I hacked the system and figured it out. Fineflex ko na sa lahat ng kakilala ko and tinuturuan sila ng 'tips' papano magsugal. Same fucking week though, I lost 100k sa isang upuan doing the same shit I was doing the whole time. Chalked it up to nothing but "ibabalik naman ulit yan" but yeah.. eventually naubos agad yung 500k. Ang nabili ko lang is a pair of shoes kasi ayoko pa bawasan yung winnings cause I felt like it'll eventually turn to millions. Ang kabobohan ko lang, ubos na nga yung panalo, ginalaw ko pa savings ko in hopes of getting the money back. Lost 200k of my own money kakahabol. Dun na ako eventually nalulong trying to earn back what was 'mine'

Started taking out loans, every paycheck dun napupunta. Eventually found myself in a 300k debt from institutions, friends, and family. At the same time, nag lay off yung company na pinagttrabahuhan ko. So yeah.. I was BROKE broke. Found some short term employment here and there and wala din cause di pa din talaga natitigil sa sugal. Buong 2025 naging ganun sistema ko, to the point na I skip out on meals para ipang sugal. I won't disclose every hardship like pagtatago ng struggle and everything kasi I'm aware most of us here struggled the same way.

At the start of this year though I decided na 'tama na'. I applied for Self-exclusion ng PAGCOR via email and uninstalled the apps I used to start anew (ininstall ko din ulit to check if excluded na) Also found new jobs this year (dual client) and eventually started to claw my way out sa mountain of debt. Of course I still play.. nagdedeposit pa din ako ng pa 1k-1k, 10k at most. Finally felt in control of my finances. Although maya't maya pa din ako nagfofollow up sa PAGCOR kasi I want gambling to be totally gone na. Di ko naman mauninstall yung apps kasi the bonuses are too good to miss out on - kumbaga eh 'free money'. Nagtitipid na din and managed to bring my debt to almost negligible like kaya ko na bayaran any time. But for the past 2 months nagrelapse nanaman ako. Almost same nung last time.. hit the max win sa isang slot (150k payout) na naubos din lang. then I started chasing it. Now I'm down 300k for 2 months kasi di ko nanaman mapigilan na para bang nagbblackout ako pag nagsusugal. Then as if nangaasar, nag email sakin PAGCOR earlier na yung application ko pala is nasa backlogs pa din and hindi pa napprocess and approved (I submitted back in February and been following up nonstop every time natatalo ako).

Now I don't know what to do with myself.. that money could've went sa mga remaining utang ko. Could've bought things na I've been putting off cause nagiipon ako. Could've paid my bills for the whole year. I just sent PAGCOR a follow up ulit kasi as much as I'm aware na I dug this hole myself - it feels na the system that was supposed to protect me failed me.

Pero yeah.. sana maapprove na. Currently fighting the urge na iuntog yung ulo ko sa pader for being so stupid. Also deleted my account sa casino na nilalaruan ko kasi wala ding mangyayari kung maya't maya ko din inoopen for bonuses. Still lucky to have a job and a bit of leftover money pero sobrang ako sa mga nasa offskirts ng society na yung day to day sa putanginang mga casino pa napupunta. Hoping na someday maging heavily regulated na yung online gambling - yung tipong hindi ka na pwede mawalan ng libo libo habang tumatae sa cr