The government of the Philippines is intensifying its scrutiny of the online gaming sector, with the Senate committee on games and amusement initiating a formal inquiry to assess its negative societal impacts.
The move signals a coordinated effort by lawmakers and government bodies to address what one key senator has labeled a national “crisis” driven by addiction and insufficient regulation.
Committee Chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo announced the inquiry, stating his commitment to prioritizing legislative measures aimed at curbing the industry’s harms. “
On Thursday, we will start discussing the bills on online gambling. I made a commitment to prioritize these measures because our problem concerning online gambling is getting worse. This is already a crisis.
He argued that a poorly regulated environment has fostered unsafe gaming conditions, leading to widespread addiction that disproportionately affects the nation’s youth.
Posing a critical question, Tulfo asked, “You have to weigh: you have your earnings, but you also have a lot of social ills… What’s more important, money or the future of the youth?”
The government of the Philippines inquiry is the latest in a series of actions targeting the industry. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated he will convene a multisectoral conclave, which will include religious leaders, to thoroughly examine the issue.
This follows previous demands from the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for an outright ban on all online gaming.
These governmental actions are complemented by recent industry and regulatory measures, including the formation of the PlaySafe Alliance by 19 licensed operators to combat illegal gambling, the implementation of stricter payment rules to limit spending, and a new agreement between regulator PAGCOR and the Ad Standards Council to promote responsible advertising.
