A former commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) is calling for stricter regulation of gambling advertisements, citing their negative impact on families and individuals.

Nicasio Conti, who led PAGC and now heads Capstone-Intel Corp., said in a statement the government should acknowledge the harm caused by gambling addiction and take steps to prevent its promotion.

“Just as we recognize the devastating health impacts of smoking and imposed strict advertising bans, we must do the same for gambling to protect our society, especially the most vulnerable,” said Conti.

He compared the addictive nature of gambling to nicotine, highlighting the financial and social problems both vices can cause.

Conti said gambling is also linked to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies. He said the economic losses on the two vices are similar. Smoking results in substantial healthcare costs on illnesses and loss of productivity, while gambling causes severe financial problems, including debt and bankruptcy.

“The economic fallout extends to increased social services and law enforcement costs due to gambling-related crimes,” he said.

The social consequences of smoking and gambling are severe, he said, adding that secondhand smoke endangers non-smokers, while gambling erodes family stability, leading to breakdowns in relationships, neglect of responsibilities and, in some cases, domestic violence.

Conti emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive regulations on gambling advertisements to mitigate these harms.

“Our society has rightly decided to limit the promotion of smoking to protect public health. We must now apply the same principles to gambling,” he said.

He said the government should also consider a ban on all gambling advertisements and institute awareness campaigns on the risks of gambling.

He emphasized the need for strict licensing requirements for gambling operators and rigorous monitoring and enforcement of advertising regulations.

“The evidence is clear: gambling, like smoking, poses significant risks to our society,” Conti said. “By regulating gambling advertisements, we can take a critical step towards protecting our citizens, preserving family structures, and maintaining social order. It’s time for our lawmakers to act decisively and put the well-being of our people first,” he said.