GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A 36-year-old man is recovering in the hospital after stabbing himself inside a motorcycle shop along the National Highway in Barangay Dadiangas North on Thursday afternoon, October 16, following a heated argument with his wife over online gambling losses.
Police identified the victim as “Dodong,” a resident of Barangay Apopong, General Santos City. According to Police Captain Cyrus Vince Arro, commander of the Pendatun Police Station, the man quietly entered the establishment’s service area carrying a knife, unnoticed by staff. Moments later, he stabbed himself multiple times in a desperate act of frustration.
Investigations revealed that Dodong’s wife, identified only as “Inday,” had become addicted to playing online gambling games, particularly “scatter”, reportedly selling some household items to fund her habit. Overwhelmed by financial loss and emotional distress, the husband attempted to take his own life.
Fortunately, members of the City Mobile Force Company who were nearby quickly responded, disarmed the victim, and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he is now in stable condition.
Police said the man could still face charges for “public alarm and scandal” following the incident.
Online Gambling: A Growing Social Menace
The case sheds light on the growing social and psychological toll of online gambling platforms that continue to operate freely in the Philippines despite repeated calls for stricter regulation and outright bans.
While the government has cracked down on some illegal e-gambling sites, many platforms—especially those run under vague or foreign licenses—continue to thrive online, accessible through mobile phones and social media.
Experts warn that online gambling addiction has become a silent crisis, wrecking families, pushing individuals into debt, and fueling domestic conflicts. Psychologists note that easy access to betting apps and “scatter” games fosters a false sense of control and instant reward, making it dangerously addictive.
Local social workers in General Santos City say they have seen a rise in cases of family disputes, theft, and self-harm linked to online gambling losses. The problem is compounded by the lack of strong national regulation and the continued presence of e-sabong and similar betting schemes disguised under “gaming” platforms.
Unless authorities take decisive action to shut down or strictly monitor these gambling portals, more Filipino families risk falling into financial ruin and emotional devastation—just like the family of Dodong and Inday, whose lives were nearly destroyed by an online game.