JILI77 Effects of Gambling on Money, Health and Family

The effects of gambling reach well past the balance on your screen. The WHO’s gambling fact sheet, dated 2 December 2024, says gambling can threaten health, drive poverty by diverting household spending, and break relationships. This page sets out what that fact sheet and PAGCOR’s responsible gaming page say, in plain words, so you can weigh your own play against them. For the tools that keep play small, see responsible betting and how to set limits.

The effects of gambling in the WHO’s own figures

These are the WHO’s numbers, quoted from its fact sheet and worldwide in scope.

None of these is a Philippine figure. They show the shape of the problem, and the right-hand column tells you how far each one travels.

Gambling effects on health and family

The WHO says gambling harm includes mental illness and suicide, relationship breakdown, family violence and neglect of children. It cites a Swedish study that estimated people with a gambling disorder were 15 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

PAGCOR’s responsible gaming page describes the personal side: constant thoughts of gambling, relationships with family and loved ones suffering, and feeling hopeless, anxious or depressed. If any of that sounds like a recent week, read the page on online casino addiction signs and help.

1. Note your mood before and after each session.
2. Note who you avoided talking to.
3. Share both with one person you trust.

Epekto ng sugal sa pera at pamilya

Ang epekto ng sugal ay madalas nagsisimula sa pera at lumalawak sa tahanan. Sinasabi ng WHO na ang sugal ay maaaring maglihis ng gastusin ng sambahayan mula sa pagkain, pabahay, pangangalagang pangkalusugan at edukasyon.

Sa bawat taong nagsusugal sa mataas na antas, anim na iba pa ang naaapektuhan sa karaniwan, ayon sa WHO. Ang mga ito ay kadalasang hindi nagsusugal: asawa, anak, magulang.

Gambling and debt: where the money goes

Gambling and debt travel together because the money has to come from somewhere. The WHO names financial distress and income-generating crimes such as theft and fraud among the harms, and PAGCOR’s page lists debt, missed bills and borrowing.

A short illustration with a reader’s own figures shows the mechanism. If you lose ₱3,000 of money set aside for bills and borrow ₱3,000 to cover them, you owe ₱3,000 and have lost ₱3,000, and nothing was gained.

Write the amounts in a gambling diary so the loan and the loss sit on the same page.

Effects of gambling addiction beyond the clinic

The WHO says gambling harm occurs well below clinical thresholds. Signs include money diverted from essential household spending, which can lead to food insecurity, housing problems and difficulty reaching healthcare and education.

For sleep and work, the WHO’s reference list points to The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling, Volume 9, Issue 11, for the underlying research. Read it there rather than relying on a summary.