The Need for Rehab Centers for Gambling Addiction in the Philippines

Is there Really a Need for Rehabilitation Center for Problem Gamblers in the Philippines?
(the list of rehab centers for gambling addiction in the Philippines is located at the end of this article)

Is gambling a strong enough addiction to require rehabilitation? Is there a need for rehabilitation centers for gamblers in the Philippines? Gambling is not a substance. Gambling is and obsession, and an addiction simultaneously. It is one of the few addictions that do not require any substance. Gambling can be a very serious addiction.

How many people know what terrible things happen in the parking lots of casinos? Yes, in the parking lots. This is where some of the worst consequences of gambling addiction take place. Sometimes people who are so addicted to gambling will actually leave children and even small infants in their cars for hours while they gamble. They might occasionally check on them or bring food along, but anyone who is so addicted to gambling that they will leave children in the car while they gamble has a serious problem and needs serious help. It is hard to imagine that anyone would do that, but unfortunately addictions can mess up the mind and make people do unimaginable things.

Some people are so addicted to gambling that they use every paycheck to go and gamble as soon as the funds are available. What about household bills? Other family members are left helpless to try to figure out how to pay the bills and buy life’s necessities such as food and health care supplies. Gambling has the potential to cause people to lose their homes; sometimes in the process they lose their families as well.

Not everyone who gambles falls into addiction. Many people are able to go to a casino or play the machines in the bars once in a while without letting it become an addiction or obsession. Some people use gambling for date night or go with friends. Some prefer to go alone because they feel that other people are an interruption to their luck. And some people go to the casino only once or twice and yet suddenly gambling become their whole life.

What is it about gambling that causes people to become addicted? When anyone goes into a casino, first they are kindly greeted by a personable security person who inspects their identification to make sure that they are of age. Behind that security representative are bright lights, machines sounding as people win money, and cocktail waitresses patrolling the casino with trays full of cocktails, beer, sodas, coffee, and water.

Once inside there are hundreds of colorful machines to choose from with such an array of themes that there is something that appeals to everyone. There are machines with ancient themes of well-known ancient cities. There are machines that utilize famous movies and television shows. Even machines based on board games grace the casino.

There is color everywhere. It is very pleasing to the aesthetics. After wandering around a little bit and possibly using the large beautifully decorated bathroom, the customer finds a game that pleases their personality and places some money in the machine.

Normally machines are programmed to let people win at least a few cents with each spin or with most spins in order to keep people interested. Many newcomers start out with penny machines and low bets, such as betting five rows but doubling their bet. If they happen to win ten or twenty dollars on a spin, it does something mentally to make them want to bet more. They might win for a little while and some people do leave with money, but it is nothing compared to the amount of money lost by customers in a typical evening.

But most of the time when people begin to bet higher, they eventually run out of money. Then they almost always have the urge to put in more money to win back the original money and usually lose that as well. A person who has become addicted to gambling might even use the ATM’s that the casino offers, which charge four to five times the fees that normal ATM’s charge because they know that people will be desperate for money.

Some people drain their entire bank account trying to win back the money that was lost. Some people will return to their cars or even home to retrieve more money to gamble. Many people drive for over two hour to reach a casino. Imagine driving two hours to get home and then two hours back to probably lose all the money again. But that’s what gambling addicts do.

When a gambling addict runs out of their own personal sources of money, they will often try to borrow from other people or take out loans. It becomes a never ending cycle because even if they pay back the lender they end up trying to borrow money again, and again, and again. Some gambling addicts even resort to selling their personal things to make money to gamble.

Something about winning a couple of times has the capacity to turn someone into an addict. The drinks in the casino are free unless something special is ordered. There are always bonus promotions and prize opportunities going on. Everything inside the casino is welcoming and there is the chance to win a lot of money. To some people it becomes completely irresistible.

After all of this detail and having more knowledge of what gambling feels like along with the perks and welcoming and fun atmosphere of casinos, it is easy to see how many people can become very addicted to gambling.

There is absolutely a need for gambling rehabilitation centers in the Philippines. If the gambler is left to his or her own devices it can be impossible to stop. Just like with any other addiction, the gambler is not necessarily able to stop without intervention and help.

A gambling rehabilitation center would be a safe place for the gambling addict to go and be unable to rush off to a casino or to buy lottery tickets. Sometimes people need to be restrained in order to be saved from themselves.

There is a big need for gambling rehabilitation centers in the Philippines. There are a lot of people addicted to gambling. If there is not help available it is easy for people to hit rock bottom and be left in the streets with nowhere to go, nothing to eat, and no way to stay warm.

And what about their families?

What if the gambling addict is the sole provider? That can mean families going hungry, being cold or homeless, and facing every problem imaginable. That’s not fair to children and spouses. If someone in the family is becoming a gambling addict and the signs are crystal clear, family should be able to intervene somehow and have a safe place to send the addict.

If the sole provider has to be taken away and the family has to find some other means of survival, it is better to be able to plan for that early on before all is lost. Rehabilitation centers for gamblers are necessary and should be available for those who cannot stop.

Therefore, the answer is a definite and loud “YES.” There is not only a need but possibly as big of a need for gambling rehabilitation centers as there is for other types of rehabilitation facilities.

Here is the list of rehabilitation centers for compulsive gamblers in the Philippines that can help address gambling related addiction, compulsive gambling or ludomania.

Rehab Centers for Pathological Gambling (Gambling Addiction) in the Philippines

Name of Center: Support Group and Training Consultancy, Inc. (SGTCI)
Mobile Numbers: (0929) 165-0414
Email Address: sgroups457@yahoo.com

Name of Center: The Life Change Recovery Center (LCRC)
Postal Address: Life Change Recovery Center, 105 Scout Rallos Street, Kamuning, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Telephone Numbers: (02) 415-7964, (02) 415-6529
Website Address: www.lifechangerecovery.com
Contact Person: Miss Agnes Agbayani (HRD Manager)
Email Address: lifechange@gmail.com and lifechange@yahoo.com

Name of Center: Bridges of Hope Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center
Contact Person: Michelle Perez (Owner)
Email Address: boh.rehab@gmail.com
Landline Nos.: (02) 986-3883 and (02) 519-2730
Mobile No.: (0915) 645-2703
Postal Address: 364 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque City, Philippines

Name of Center: Penuel Home
Email Address: penuelhome@yahoo.com
Telephone Numbers: (02) 404-6446, (02) 722-5389
Mobile Number: (0917) 541-2587
Postal Address: 388 Smuth St. corner Mariano Marcos, San Juan City, 1500, Metro Manila, Philippines

Counseling and Psychiatric Help

Name: The Randy Dellosa Wellness Center and Life Change Recovery Center
Contact Person: Randy Dellosa
Address: 105 Scout Rallos Street, Timog Area, Quezon City, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Contact Number: (02) 415-6529, (02) 415-7964

Name: Dr. Angelo Subida
Address: VMMC Hospital, QC Cityland Megaplaza Ortigas, Therapy Onsites
Mobile NUmber: (0909) 777-0433
Website: http://www.drsubida.com
Email Address: drsubida@gmail.com

Support Group for Problem Gamblers (Compulsive or Pathological Gambling) in the Philippines

Name of Support Group: Makati City Gamblers Anonymous - Make It Happen Group
Schedule: Open Meeting - Monday - 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Address: Makati Medical Center, 3rd Floor, Neurosciences Center Boardroom, Number 2, Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Name of Support Group: Makati City Gamblers Anonymous - Machiato Group
Schedule: Open Meeting - Friday - 7:30 pm
Address: Bo's Coffee Shop, First Floor Glorietta 5 Ayala Center, Makati City, National Capital Region, Philippines

Websites You Can Visit for Information and Awareness Regarding Gambling Addiction
(just click the link or you can copy/paste the URL directly to your browser)

https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/philippines-gamblers-anonymous
http://www.penuelhome.com/
http://www.helpinternational.de/en/philippines/ministries-phil/set-free-center-phil
http://filipinogambler.blogspot.com/
http://www.mararahayka.org/
http://randydellosa.blogspot.com/2011/06/gambling-addiction-counseling-and-rehab.html
http://www.massph.org/
http://apiproblemgambling.com/

Should you wish to visit the complete list of rehab centers in the Philippines, you can click this link.