21-07-2025
Escudero on online gambling: It cannot go on this way
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday committed that the proposed Senate measures seeking either a total ban or strict regulation of online gambling in the Philippines will be discussed in plenary.
'Kung ipinagbawal nga natin ang POGO kaugnay ng pagsusugal ng dayuhan, hindi ba dapat lalo 'yung pagsusugal na Pilipino mismo? Definitely, it cannot go on this way,' Escudero said in an ambush interview.
(If we banned POGO that is connected with foreign gambling, shouldn't we prohibit gambling among Filipinos themselves all the more? Definitely, it cannot go on this way.)
'Three bills or four bills have been filed to either ban or regulate Philippine inland gaming. We will pursue those bills and make sure that they lead to a floor debate and plenary vote on the matter,' he added.
In March, Escudero called for a review of Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs), expressing concerns over their impact on Filipinos following the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
He warned that while POGOs have been shut down, some may have simply rebranded as PIGOs to continue operations. He thus urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to conduct a thorough and transparent review of PIGOs to assess their true costs and benefits.
Several lawmakers have included in their priority bills for the 20th Congress the legislation for the total ban of online gambling in the country, while some are only pushing for restricting access to it.
As for the Executive, Malacañang said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the calls to ban online gambling.
''Ang mga pagpapasyang ganito po ay talagang pinag-aaralan kung ito ba'y makakaapekto sa ekonomiya, makaapekto sa mamamayan at hindi po tayo maaring magpadalos-dalos po dito,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said.
(Decisions like this are being studied to see if they will affect the economy, affect the people, and we cannot rush this.)
''Dahil minsan po, kapag po mismo ang legal at license ng mga online gaming sites ang iyong iba-ban, mas dumadami ang mga illegal na online gaming sites at iyan po ay mas nakakaapekto sa ekonomiya, so pinag-aaralan po iyan ng Pangulo,'' she added.
(Because sometimes, when you ban legal and licensed online gaming sites, the number of illegal online gaming sites increases and that has a greater impact on the economy, so the President is studying that.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News
