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Resolution urging Marcos to ban online gambling eyed in Senate
Several senators expressed disappointment that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. did not mention online gambling in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also lamented the omission, with Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano calling online gambling a "new plague" destroying lives and families.
Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan urged Congress to launch inquiries into the "dangerous normalization" and "unchecked promotion" of online gambling, questioning if a ban could be implemented through a mere act of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri also delivered a privilege speech, urging colleagues to act on various measures filed in the Senate either regulating or banning online gambling, preferring a complete ban.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto stated that President Marcos is concerned about online gambling and that additional regulations are being discussed.
Recto mentioned that the Department of Finance (DoF) met with PAGCOR to discuss possible measures to deal with gambling addiction, with proposals to raise licensing fees and require digital gaming firms to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange remaining on the table.
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Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate committee on games and amusement, announced public hearings next week into the proliferation of online gambling in the Philippines.
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A survey by The Fourth Wall indicates that 75% of Filipino online gamblers believe an outright ban on online gambling will be ineffective and may drive players to unregulated platforms.
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Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David has reiterated his criticism of online gambling in the Philippines, emphasizing that no revenue is worth the harm it causes to families and individuals affected by gambling addiction.
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The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is intensifying its crackdown on illegal e-gambling sites, favoring stricter regulations over a total ban.
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DigiPlus Interactive Corp., operator of online gaming platforms like BingoPlus, has warned that a proposed crackdown on the sector could lead to significant job losses for Filipinos.
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