MANILA -- Filipinos with an itch to gamble have always had ways to do so, whether it was betting on cockfights, horse races, poker, numbers games or bingo cards. Often the games were illegal, so betting might involve some sneaking around.
Philippine regulators originally authorized online gambling platforms to serve Filipinos stuck at home by the COVID pandemic and keep revenues flowing to the government: Now many say the temptation to bet anytime from anywhere has become too overwhelming for society to handle. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
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