A Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) official warned that technological advances are creating an unstable environment where illegal operators thrive while legitimate businesses struggle.
Speaking at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Forum on September 11 at Newport World Resorts, PAGCOR Vice President for Human Resource and Development Group Dr. Angelito Domingo proposed a three-pronged gaming education framework to address the problem.
“There are three forces — technology as the tool, the criminal divide as the motive, and social impact as the public outcry — that create a perfect storm which threatens the integrity of the legal gaming industry,” he said.
PAGCOR is implementing a gaming education framework focused on player education, operator training, and public outreach to counter growing social concerns from illegal online gambling.
“This framework envisions stronger collaboration among gaming and financial regulators, licensed operators, law enforcement, non-government organizations, the community, and the players themselves,” Dr. Domingo said.
He noted that online gaming’s exponential rise in the Philippines stems from technology accessibility and Filipinos’ heavy mobile device reliance.
“Also, a lot of people are not aware of the financial implications when they engage in gambling. They only realize the impact of what they did when it’s already too late. They could have done better by being educated at the onset,” he said.
The framework includes player education on responsible play and gambling risks, mandatory operator certification for staff to identify problem gamblers, and unified public outreach campaigns through collaboration with NGOs, financial regulators, and law enforcement agencies.
