Bishop Uy urges government to end ‘evil’ online gambling

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“EVIL.” That is how the incoming leader of the Archdiocese of Cebu calls online gambling—and he is asking the president to end it for good.

Outgoing Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and lawmakers to impose a total and permanent ban on online gambling in the Philippines.

In a statement on Friday, July 25, the Archbishop-designate of Cebu warned that it is destroying lives, breaking families, and preying on the poor.

Uy said online gambling poses not only a legal or financial issue but a moral and spiritual crisis that regulation cannot fix.

He warned that the vice, often disguised as entertainment, leads to addiction, debt, despair, and even suicide, particularly among the most vulnerable sectors of society.

“Let me speak plainly: online gambling is evil. It feeds on the vulnerable. It robs people of time, dignity, and peace,” Uy said.

He called on the government to stop relying on gambling revenues, saying no amount of profit can justify the damage to Filipino families and the loss of human dignity.

He added that regulation fails to address the root problem and cannot undo the harm already done.

“We beg you: please put a total and permanent ban on online gambling in the country. Do not allow this poison to continue spreading into the homes, phones, and hearts of our people,” Uy appealed.

He also urged the public to reject gambling in their homes, support individuals struggling with addiction, and organize prayer campaigns and awareness programs at the community level.

He called on Filipinos to support legislation and leaders who defend life and protect the poor from exploitation.

His appeal came weeks after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned of the rising influence of online gambling, especially through e-wallet platforms that make access easier for the youth.

Uy, 58, has served as bishop of Tagbilaran since 2016 and was ordained a priest in 1993 under the Diocese of Talibon.

He holds a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

On July 16, Pope Leo XIV appointed Uy as the next Archbishop of Cebu, succeeding Archbishop Jose Palma, who retired after turning 75. Uy is set to be installed on September 30, 2025.

The Archdiocese of Cebu serves more than 4.7 million Catholics across over 170 parishes.(MyTVCebu)