SEN. Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday called for a Senate investigation on what he described as the “rapid proliferation” of online gambling operations in the country.
“There is undeniably a whole gambling ecosystem thriving online. Mobile phones have become (not only) more than a one-stop shop but a haven for online gamblers or player-bettors far from the reach of their concerned families and friends,” Ejercito said.
The senator made the proposal as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said that online gambling has become a “deep and pervasive moral and social problem” that affects individuals, families, and the society.
“It is clear that online gambling is no longer just a simple pastime. It is now a deep and pervasive moral problem, disguised in the guise of entertainment and technology,” the CBCP said in its statement following the 130th CBCP Plenary Assembly.
In calling for the Senate probe, Ejercito noted that what initially appeared to be a way to “kill time or occasionally have fun,” has slowly damaged not only the financial well-being of Filipino players, but also their relationships with their families.
“While our government has focused its attention on solving the undesirable effects of POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), silently, a new wave of illness of gambling have infected our nation, slowly destroying the lives of Filipino families,” he said.
He said the government should exercise the “parens patriae” doctrine and establish measures to protect vulnerable Filipinos, especially the poor and the youth, from false promises of instant wealth and easy money when they play online gambling games.
He also said allowing e-wallets and other forms of digital financial services to be conduits of online gambling has worsened the situation, noting that it has become very easy for anyone to place their bets.
He added that many have become addicted to the games, which are readily downloadable in mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.
At the ‘Kapihan sa Senado” media forum, Ejercito appealed to the government to thoroughly study whether the revenues from online gambling outweigh its social costs.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has said that the government earns around P50 billion a year from online gambling operations.
“We need to weight if the revenues or the funds we get from online gambling are enough to ignore its social consequences,” he said in Filipino.
Malacañang has earlier said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to the proposal of the Department of Finance to impose taxes on the online gambling industry to regulate, if not restrict, its operations.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said taxing the online gambling industry is not the answer to the social ills it has brought to Filipinos.
“Let’s not earn at the expense of our people. We passed a law on taxing POGO operations in the country and it did not stop the moral scourge to society. Lalong lumala ang mag sindikato at human trafficking cases sa bansa (Cases of human trafficking and activities of criminal syndicates even got worse),” he said in a statement.
“So, taxing them is not an answer to the social ills it will cause our kababayans (countrymen). We’re profiting from the misery of our people. Kawawa naman and ating bansa (It is bad for the country),” he added.
Ejecrcito said that since there is no law yet regulating or totally banning online gambling, the National Telecommunications Commission should instead regulate or restrict the use of e-wallets and other similar applications that will make it easy for anybody to place their bets using their apps.
He said the NTC should also go after illegal online gambling sites after Pagcor said that they have been proliferating, thereby adding to the problems on online gambling.
Ejercito also called on celebrities to stop accepting offers to endorse online gaming since they influence more Filipinos to get into the bad habit.
‘PLAGUE’
The CBCP denounced the “plague” that is caused by the spread of online gambling in the country, as it noted that it is easily accessible to both young and old people 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This is no longer a simple problem of individuals. It is now a public health crisis in our society, just like drug addiction, alcoholism, and other forms of addiction. It destroys not only the individual but also their families,” it said.
It noted that while gambling is no longer new, its use of modern technology makes it a far bigger threat to society.
“With smart phones, gambling has become accessible to anyone, young or old, anywhere. It has become open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just one click on any online account or e-wallet is enough for a person to lose all their deposited money in an instant. One can even borrow money online to gamble,” said CBCP.
In addition, the bishops noted how online gambling has been made “intentionally attractive” coupled with celebrities being used to promote them.
“Unknown to us, this system is designed to catch people in the net of gambling addiction and to get them addicted to what they think is an innocent game and short-term entertainment,” they said.
The prelates said that, as shepherds tasked with caring for people and their dignity, it is imperative for the CBCP to speak out against online gambling.
“We cannot afford to remain silent because the prevalence of gambling and its addiction among many is like a deadly plague or pandemic, devastating the lives of individuals and families, and society as a whole,” said the CBCP.
The bishops said it is now imperative for all to recognize that gambling addiction is a public health issue, which should be addressed with adequate education, legislation, and treatment.
The CBCP also urged the government to declare any type of online gambling as illegal and to put appropriate controls on online payment systems so that they do not become tools for easy access to online gambling sites.
They also called on the government to make protecting the welfare of the majority a real priority, instead of pushing gambling just for the sake of profit.
They also urged legislators and local government units to ensure that the welfare of the people is their “first consideration” in granting permits to any form of gambling.
The CBCP also asked advertisers and the media to stop the “romanticization of gambling” and instead show its true impact.
Lastly, the CBCP directed all parishes to be active in helping individuals and families affected by gambling, and not to remain silent or passive against the issue.
“The Church is not against any kind of entertainment or recreation. But when pleasure becomes a cause of slavery, and ‘entertainment’ becomes a cause of the destruction of life—we need to call out and warn,” it said. – With Gerard Naval
