Camille Naredo

PAGCOR Chairperson Alejandro Tengco,  during the Senate probe on illegal POGOS on July 10, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

PAGCOR Chairperson Alejandro Tengco,  during the Senate probe on illegal POGOS on July 10, 2024.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Senate probe on POGOs

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175196217912620240710-pagcor-tengco-senate-probe-MD4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="PAGCOR Chairperson Alejandro Tengco, during the Senate probe on illegal POGOS on July 10, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/>PAGCOR Chairperson Alejandro Tengco,  during the Senate probe on illegal POGOS on July 10, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Amid calls for a total ban on online gambling, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco believes stricter regulation is the key. In an interview over DZMM Teleradyo on Tuesday, Tengco acknowledged the problems arising from online gambling, but emphasized that these are caused by illegal sites -- not the ones licensed by PAGCOR. &quot;Napakadami pong ilegal na hanggang ngayon ay nag-ooperate pa sa pangkasalukuyan. At yan po ay masasabi kong dahilan kung bakit ang ating industriya ay gumugulo, yun pong proliferation kasi ng online illegal operators na unfortunately hindi po nagmumula dito sa ating bansa kung hindi nagmumula sa ibang bansa na ang tinatarget ay customer na Filipino,&quot; Tengco explained. &quot;Regulation is the key and the answer, not a total ban. Sapagkat kapag tinotal ban mo yan, mas mabibigatan at magkakaproblema ang ating mga kababayan sapagkat wala nang kontrol lalong walang regulasyon, lalong ma-a-agrabyado ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino,&quot; he added.  <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/4/pagcor-says-to-follow-regulation-vs-online-gambling-2255">READ: PAGCOR says to follow regulation vs online gambling</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/palace-says-no-objection-to-any-bill-that-seeks-to-curb-gambling-addiction-1630">READ: Palace says no objection to any bill that seeks to curb gambling addiction</a></div>He said the government stands to lose billions if online gambling is banned completely. &quot;Sa PAGCOR alone, for 2024, humigit kumulang po nasa P50 billion ang licensed fees na kinita. Bukod po ito sa ibinabayad nung mga operators sa Bureau of Internal Revenue, ano po, sa BIR. Kasi ang totoo, isa sa pinakamalaking online gaming company na may lisensya sa PAGCOR ang balita ko ay mahigit tatlumpu o apatnapung bilyong piso ang ibinayad sa taxes,&quot; Tengco said. He added: &quot;Daang bilyon po ang kinikita sa pangkasalukuyan ng gobyerno directly at indirectly.&quot;He also pointed out the jobs created by online gambling. &quot;Huwag po nating isasantabi meron na pong 32,000 more or less, directly employed by the industry. Pangalawa, meron pong mga ancillary businesses ano po. Nandiyan po ang mga security guard, drivers, messengers, ang mga restaurants kung saan kumakain ang mga to at iba’t ibang transporation companies na ginagamit itong mga involved sa online gaming industry. So yun po ang indirect,&quot; he noted.&quot;Kaya ang epekto po nito talaga ay daang bilyon sa ating bansa ang kita na posibleng mawala kung maisasabatas yung total ban.&quot; Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday called for <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/zubiri-pushes-for-total-online-gambling-ban-1506">a total ban on all forms of online gambling</a>, even those authorized by PAGCOR, as he highlighted the problems caused by what he called a &quot;silent epidemic.&quot;Meanwhile, the Anakbayan party-list filed House Bill No. 1351, or <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/7/house-bill-seeks-to-ban-youth-from-online-gambling-1225">Kontra E-Sugal Bill</a>, which seeks to limits access to online gambling platforms to individuals aged 21 and above, and mandates platforms to require government-issued identification for registration.The Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has also joined calls from the public and lawmakers to tighten regulations surrounding online gambling, calling it <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/cbcp-joins-calls-to-regulate-online-gambling-1148">a new plague that destroys individuals and families</a>.<div> </div><div>SAFEGUARDS </div>Tengco acknowledged the societal ills caused by illegal online gambling but stressed that they already have several regulations in place and are looking to employ even more safeguards.Among these are: ensuring that those who gamble are aged 21 up and requiring a proof identification before one can access an online gambling site. Meanwhile, in the process of procurement is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool that imposes a cooling off period. &quot;Mayroon pong AI-powered monitoring system kung saan pag nakita na mas malaki ang talo mo, halimbawa, at mas maraming talo ka kaysa sa panalo, ikaw din ay magkakaroon ng cooling off period kung saan hindi ka na rin makapaglalaro hanggang maiayos mo yung pamamaraan mo or yung habit mo ng pagsusugal,&quot; Tengco said. PAGCOR is also set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ad Standards Council to regulate billboards advertising online gambling. Tengco said they have talked to licensees about this who did not object. PAGCOR has also proposed a regulation on ads during prime time. &quot;Sa prime time media, minungkahi po ng PAGCOR sa Ad Standards Council na tayo po ay hindi na dapat mag-advertise, ang online gaming licensees ng PAGCOR, during prime time. So may window na po, yung parang 5:30 to 8:30, yun ang prime time, bawal na po. Ilalabas na natin ang reglamento na hindi na po puwedeng mag-advertise,&quot; Tengco said. PAGCOR is also coordinating with a foundation that can help gambling addicts recover, and will put up a 24/7 hotline in the next few months. Tengco said he agrees with imposing a minimum bet, but will still need to determine the amount. He appealed to the public to use online gambling platforms which are accredited by PAGCOR.

Amid calls for a total ban on online gambling, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco believes stricter regulation is the key.

Amid calls for a total ban on online gambling, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alejandro Tengco believes stricter regulation is the key.

Instead of total ban, PAGCOR wants stricter regulation on online gambling

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Instead of total ban, PAGCOR wants stricter regulation on online gambling

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 08, 2025 04:11 PM PHT

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