From fun to financial ruin: Exploring the criminological aspects of online gambling

This study investigates the lived experiences and criminological dimensions of online gambling among Filipino individuals in Zamboanga del Sur. Guided by a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research explored four key areas: (1) the participants’ experiences with online gambling, (2) its effects on their quality of life, (3) how they coped with its consequences, and (4) the policies that may be proposed to mitigate its impact. Informants were purposively selected from police reports, barangay referrals, and school guidance offices, ensuring that only individuals with verified gambling-related issues were included. Thematic analysis of interviews revealed fifteen emergent themes. Online gambling typically began through social and digital influences, with Facebook ads, vloggers, and peer recommendations as key exposure points. Initial emotional highs and perceived rewards sustained their engagement, eventually evolving into habitual and unstructured gambling routines. As financial losses accumulated, awareness of addiction increased, but many remained trapped due to platform accessibility, false hope, and mental strain. Participants experienced emotional instability, relationship conflicts, and disruption of work or school performance. Financial instability forced some to pawn personal items, borrow excessively, or neglect basic needs. While recovery efforts were often self-initiated, professional help was rarely sought. Coping strategies included deleting apps, shifting to new routines, reconnecting with family, and relying on faith. The study’s findings were anchored in Routine Activity Theory, General Strain Theory, and Social Learning Theory, highlighting how environmental exposure, emotional strain, and peer influence contribute to gambling behavior. It is recommended that interventions include digital platform regulation, financial literacy programs, school-based prevention efforts, and community-based counseling services that are accessible and affordable. Ultimately, this study points out that it takes a multi-sectoral response to address the rising harm of online gambling and safeguard vulnerable individuals.