Manila, the 4th largest city in the world has become the gaming capital of Asia; is gambling good for the society?

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines
June 4, 2017

According to Casinopedia, Manila, the 4th largest city in the world (in terms of population) many high end casino and hotel operations have moved or considering of moving to Bay City (the reclamation area) even despite some security concerns.  From Casino pedia  The total package has lured many tourists/high rollers:   the theater, the beaches, entertainment, and fun.

Manila has beat Macau and Singapore as gaming city/capital of Asia

However a big question is raised:  while this is good for the country economically, is this good for most of the people?  While the Bible does not directly condemn nor consider gambling a sin, (Bible questions: IS GAMBLING A SIN) gambling becomes addictive for most, especially for those who see lottery bet as the only hope they can get out of financial difficulties, although they know that they can not beat the odds.  Or go to a casino.

 Biblical case against gambling



Hence those who get hooked to gambling:   lottery see no end to their difficulties, and some are driven to take on higher risks, borrow (which they cant repay)  and later on driven to desperate measures:    theft, suicide, and as in case of Jessie Carlos in RWM, driven to revenge and killing people (and himself)

Early on I was consulted on a entrepreneur board game, and when lottery was mentioned as one of entrepreneurial activities in that entrepreneur's board game (a modification of Monopoly) this post made an adverse comment.  Any form of gambling can not be considered entrepreneurial (from a risk taking point of view.   But it cant be, the entrepreneur in this case has all odds against him and can not win)

A lot of debate and controversy has emerged from jueteng, stl.     The govt, through the initiative of Marcos, established PAGCOR for him (not the govt) to control and siphon gambling revenues in the entire country) And PAGCOR now does.  Since this is an edict, no one dare go against it because the PCSO and PAGCOR and even the govt leadership make hay from the revenues of PAGCOR and PCSO.

What is your take?  Are casinos good or bad for your?  For the country

Is this guy trying to chastise the casinos and reminding every one that gambling is an evil

PAGCOR, PCSO try to project good social impact by providing charity assistance to the needy and other social projects.  But their main business keep people poor and in financial difficulties

The Birth of Sin City from Andrew

Pacquiao needed a win over Rios not because it is a symbol for "Bangon Pinoy" but because he is broke?

From SB Nation - Requiem for Welterweight Manny

It is more fun criticizing






News has it that Cong Pacquiao needed the Rios fight badly and many more fights, despite having aged all ready, because he is broke.  He is hemorrhaging lots of money.  Team Pacquiao entourage has mismanaged the earnings of Pacquiao, despite having accumulated more than $200 million.

His downfall will be his generosity, according to a Times article written by Michael Koncz:

Let us quote the excerpt:


Despite earning nearly $200 million during his brilliant career, Pacquiao always hemorrhaged money. Gary Andrew Poole's 2010 biography, "Pacman," laid out how Pacquiao's contracts were split: After his manager's took their 20-percent cut, his trainer Freddie Roach took 10 percent, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza shaved off a few more points. There were also training camp expenses, tax bills in the U.S. and the Philippines, and his boundless, ever-growing entourage, all guzzling funds. According to a 2009 New York Times article by Greg Bishop, "Team Pacquiao has perfected the art of dysfunction. The entourage consists of trainers, assistants to the trainers, advisers, assistants to the advisers, cooks, dishwashers, car washers, publicists, gofers and security." For each fight, Pacquiao also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars flying his entourage to Las Vegas, buying hundreds of tickets, covering hotel rooms, and providing spending money. In the Times article, Michael Koncz, singled out Pacquiao's Achilles' heel: "The downfall of Pacquiao, if there is one, will be his kindness and generosity. At some point, I fear that's going to catch up to him." Beyond Pacquiao's generosity, he reportedly squandered millions from gambling. That doesn't even account for his fleet of cars and extensive property holdings, including houses, condos, apartments and such an intense desire to give his money away to the poor he had to hire people simply charged with the responsibility to apologize and prevent him from throwing money at all the open hands spread out before him.

Are casinos good for the economy? Why do they mulitply?

Social and political criticisms

Personally, I do not think casinos are good for the economy. Gambling, gaming are zero sum games, are economic blackholes that sucks money, savings, and resources, and barely returns anything to the economy.  It creates paupers, losers, gambling debts, and broken homes.

This is unlike entrepreneurship that creates wealth jobs, and employment;   casino and gaming for as long as people have something to gamble/bet.  It does not create value.

I have seen millionaires become paupers;  rich people lose their cars and homes to gambling losses.

Why does the government still license and promote casinos/gambling?  Does it make sound economic sense?

Are casinos good for the economy?



Discovery - net effect of casinos to cities is negative

Why Am I Against Casino/Gambling

Filosofo Tasio Lives

Of the so many vices and projects, I am entirely against gambling or casino.  They say that it is better than womanizing, or drinking for there is no return, albeit occasional winning.

But gambling destroys value.  It does not add to the society.  Casinos chance of winning is 70% to the gambler it is 30%.  How can you beat that?  Casino helps the poor, but makes more poor people in the process.  We have seen millionaires become paupers in a matter of months.

Gambling is a zero sum game.  Those who get rich (especially casino owners) do so at the expense of others, ie those who lose

And how does the casino treat the millionaires who become poor?  Can anyone guess.?

I support the church stand vs casino and gambling (But does it receive donation from PCSO or PAGCOR hehehe?)