The Senate is prepared to shut down online gambling completely if regulators fail to enforce ironclad safeguards against its social harms.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Committee on Games and Amusement, revealed that a majority of senators in his panel want an outright ban. But the government is appealing to keep online gambling under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), citing massive revenues.
“Kaya nga gusto sana namin majority na member ng Committee on Games and Amusement ay total ban. Pero nakiki-usap ang gobyerno… ire-regulate namin through Pagcor itong online gambling na ito kasi 60 billion is 60 billion,” Tulfo said in a radio interview.
Tulfo lauded the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ order to cut gambling links from e-wallet apps, but insisted that what’s really needed is a total block on payments to gambling sites.
Pagcor data shows 30 million Filipinos gamble, with 60% doing so on illegal platforms, underscoring the urgent call for decisive action.