SEN. Grace Poe yesterday called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to come up with stricter measures and limit the number of online gambling games offered by Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) to cut the number of Filipinos playing online betting games.
In an interview with dzBB radio, Poe said PIGO operations, which she noted are easily accessible online, should be regulated since it targets Filipino players, resulting to addiction to gambling.
This is the same position earlier made by Senate President Francis Escudero, who also urged the government to review the operations of PIGOs.
“Remember yung e-sabong pinagbawal. Ngayon may iba namang naloloko sa iba’t ibang bingo o anuman yan, maaaring magkaroon ng pagdinig diyan eh para makita talaga at siguro paalalahanan na rin natin ang Pagcor. Naiintindihan ko na kailangang kumita ng Pagcor para mapondohan ang ibang pangangailanagn ng gobyerno, pero sinasabi nga natin let’s weigh the social ills o kung ano man kasaamaang naidudulot nito sa ating lipunan (Remember that e-sabong [online cockfighting games] were banned. But now there’s this bingo and other online gambling games. We can have a Senate hearing on that to determine [it’s ill effects on the people]… and maybe we can remind Pagcor to weigh the social ills or whatever bad effects PIGOs may have despite the fact the Pagcor needs revenues to fund other government programs),” Poe said.
Poe also said that while there are no existing laws limiting the number of online casino games and preventing Filipinos from playing them, the Pagcor should prevent PIGOs from placing advertisements on online platforms and broadcast media to entice more Filipino players.
She said Pagcor can take the cue from cigarette manufacturers, who were banned by law from placing advertisements on radio, TV, newspapers, or online platforms due to the hazards that smoking brings to one’s health.
She said the same regulation applies to vape products.
“So, kahit paano may restrictions. Dito sa PIGO, dapat ipagbawal natin ang advertisements. (There are restrictions (on cigarette and vape ads). In the case of PIGOs [online gambling games], we should also ban then from placing advertisements),” Poe said, adding that PIGOs should stop using celebrities to endorse online gaming.
“Itong online na ito, talamak ang advertisement, open, Hindi lang daan, kundi libu-libo ang apektado diyan, So, kung maghihigpit tayo sa ibang personalities na nage-endorse dito sa investments, maghigpit din tayo pagdating dito. Paalala na rin sa mga sikat na artista, siyempre kung ano rin ang epekto nito sa kamalayan ng ating mga kababayan na humahanga sa kanila (These online games have many advertisements which have an impact not only on hundreds, but thousands of Filipinos. If we will be strict in celebrity endorsement of investment companies, we might as well be strict when it comes to PIGOs. I would also like to remind the celebrities to consider the possible effects of PIGOs ),” she added.
Poe said a Senate hearing could be called to determine if PIGOs should continue operating, and if yes, measures should be crafted to limit its operations.
But with or without the Senate investigations, Poe said Pagcor can impose stricter measures for PIGOs “in the meantime that there are no laws.”
“Kung gusto may paraan. Sasabihin na lang namin kay chairman Tengco na imbes mapag-initan pa itong PIGO ay gumawa na sila ng remedyo ngayon pa lang para hindi naman kumalat ‘yan masyado (If there’s a will, there’s a way. Maybe we can just tell Pagcor chairman [Alejandro] Tencgo to come up with remedy measures so that PIGOs cannot multiply in numbers rather than be the subject of the scrutiny of lawmakers),” she said.
