President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has addressed concerns about online gambling in the country on Thursday, assuring his administration has begun devising a comprehensive policy intended to regulate gambling platforms.
Marcos announced he has already started to organize a conference of stakeholders, including the church and parents, given that many young people have fallen victim to the addiction.
“I have already started to organize a—shall we—to convene a conference of all the stakeholders. Marami tayong naririnig from the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines). So, sama natin sila, mga pari, mga obispo. The parents, of course, are stakeholders here kasi ang victimized demographic ay ang mga kabataan,” he said in his third podcast interview.
“Well, we have to talk to the people who will, kung magre-regulate tayo, who will be doing the regulation,” he added.
The President argued that a complete ban would only push online gambling operations underground, taking away government control.
“The first effect of banning it fully is to put it underground, and then we have no control. ‘Yan talagang wala na tayong regulation,” he reasoned.
Marcos explained that the difference between online gambling and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)—which he imposed a total ban on—is that many POGOs became a front for illicit practices such as human trafficking, prostitution, scams, among other things; whereas the problem with online gambling is that Filipinos are being buried in debt and getting themselves in trouble.
Moreover, the youth are being influenced into gambling as well.
“Mga bata na natututong magsugal. Let’s focus on that. Paano natin patitigilin ‘yan? … The problem is not online gambling. The problem(s) are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,” Marcos said.
In the interview, he said he did not bring up the issue during his fourth State of the Nation Address—noted by several officials—as he was yet to begin forming the said policy.
Earlier, the Palace spoke out in Marcos’ defense, stating that a ban on online gambling necessitates an extensive evaluation before a decision can be reached.
