Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Online gambling

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175206001078820220504-e-sabong-app-JC-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="An e-sabong app remains shut on May 4, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An e-sabong app remains shut on May 4, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Online gambling started in the Philippines during the pandemic. Now, it is a multi-billion industry with 70 licensed sites. </p><p>According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), it earned P50 billion in 2024 from online gambling, half of which went to the national treasury. </p><p>PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said they employ various means to protect users such as requiring games to undergo a laboratory certification. </p><p>“We require all the games to pass through a laboratory testing para mapatunayan na yung laro or yung game na kanilang ino-offer sa mga prospective customers ay fair, walang pandarayang nagaganap,” Tengco told ABS-CBN. “The third party laboratory companies can audit the back end of the game para makita nga balansyado ba yan?” </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/hearings-sought-into-social-issues-brought-by-online-gambling-1802"><strong>Hearings sought into social issues brought by online gambling</strong></a></div><p>PAGCOR also only allows those age 21 and up to access online gambling platforms. </p><p>It assured that it will help players get their money back or address any problem it will encounter with licensed online gambling sites. </p><p>According to Tengco, most of the complaints he receives about online gambling is because of illegal platforms. </p><p>“I receive numerous letters everyday of my life here in PAGCOR and 99% ng reklamo, pag chineck namin yung mga nirereklamo, hindi licensed operator. ‘Hindi po ako nabayaran, dinaya po ako.’” </p><p>PAGCOR reminds the public to check its website and look for the “PAGCOR Guarantee” to know which sites are legitimate.</p><div> </div><div><strong>TOTAL BAN</strong> </div><p>Despite assurances from PAGCOR, lawmakers like Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Bong Go still call for a total ban on online gambling instead of imposing stricter regulation. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/cbcp-joins-calls-to-regulate-online-gambling-1148"><strong>&#x27;Deep moral problem&#x27;: CBCP joins calls to regulate online gambling</strong></a></div><p>“I-ban yan. Kasi maraming nasisirang buhay diyan,” Dela Rosa said. “Filipinos are very, yung ingenuity of Filipinos to go around the bush ay napakagaling. Kaya naisahan tayo sa regulation lalo sa online.” </p><p>According to Go, “I agree with my colleagues on the possibility of banning online gambling. I intend to file my own bill, or co-author similar measures. Masyado na pong malaki at malalim ang social cost nito.” </p><p>Attorney Tonet Quiogue, a counsel for gaming companies licensed by PAGCOR said that a total ban will only worsen the situation, however.</p><p>“Ang mga pinaka-makikinabang talaga dito sa total ban ay yung mga illegal operators kasi yun, kung wala nang pagpipilian ang mga tao kung saan sila pupunta, eh mapipilitan talaga sila na pumunta dito sa mga illegal operators,” Quiogue said. </p><p>She explained how illegal online gambling sites lure a player. </p><p>“Yung una muna, papalaruin ka, iniiba nila yung mga algorithm or yung mga games para kunwari, you know, ma-entice ka or matuwa ka sa paglalaro. Sige, lagay ka lang nang lagay ng pera. Tapos, kapag marami ka ng pera, doon na nila iibahin and patatalunin ka,” she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/zubiri-pushes-for-total-online-gambling-ban-1506"><strong>Zubiri pushes for total online gambling ban, appeals to Marcos Jr. to address issue</strong></a></div><p>Quiogue asked the government to intensify its campaign against illegal gambling platforms and to immediately take down unauthorized sites. </p><p>“Ang mas tamang solusyon talaga ay aralin at tingnan kung paano pa puwedeng ayusin ang mga regulation natin,” she stated.  </p><div> </div><div><strong>GETTING ADDICTED</strong> </div><p>According to sociologist Hannah Nario-Lopez, assistant professor at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, there are different reasons that led to the spread of online gambling in the Philippines.</p><p>“Having available internet connection everywhere,” she said. “Wala tayong regulation also or mahigpit na regulation when it comes to registering into these sites.” </p><p>Being able to bet small amounts also supposedly makes online gambling attractive. </p><p>“Hindi mo hawak yung perang ginagastos mo sa online gambling at maliit nga lang naman kung tutuusin isiipin natin five pesos, ten pesos lang naman piso lang naman yung ginagastos kada taya,” she said. </p><p>“Pag nanalo ka ang sarap ng feeling hindi ba? Pag nanalo ka parang nagiging tama yung mali,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/ejercito-files-resolution-to-investigate-online-gambling-1612"><strong>Ejercito files resolution to investigate online gambling</strong></a></div><p>This is why it is important to know if you have become addicted especially for those in vulnerable groups such as the youth. </p><p>“Kahit na sabihin natin nung umpisa ay katuwaan lang, nung umpisa ay solusyon lang siya sa problema natin kasi kailangan natin ng pera halimbawa at may nakilala tayo may nabalitaan tayong nanalo, nagiging addiction na siya kasi hindi na natin mahiwalay ang sarili natin,” she explained. “Nagiging addiction na siya kapag nagiging regular na parte na siya ng ating buhay.” </p><p>Nario-Lopez also emphasized the importance the role families play in helping a person address addiction and recover from it.</p>

<p>Online gambling started in the Philippines during the pandemic. Now, it is a multi-billion industry with 70 licensed sites.</p>

Online gambling started in the Philippines during the pandemic. Now, it is a multi-billion industry with 70 licensed sites.

PAGCOR assures strict measures in protecting players of online gambling

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PAGCOR assures strict measures in protecting players of online gambling

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2025 07:22 PM PHT

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Online gambling

Pagcor

Alejandro tengco

Total ban

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