Sen Ejercito urges probe into online gambling, calls for restrictions

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito warned that online gambling poses a more severe social crisis than Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), urging government action and filing a resolution seeking a probe into the rapid proliferation of online gambling.

Ejercito called for measures such as allowing families to request blocking of gambling websites, banning e-wallet payments for betting platforms, and launching public education campaigns.

Under his proposal, Senator Ejercito urged e-wallet applications like GCash not to be conduits for online gambling operations and for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to regulate or restrict these services.

Ejercito also appealed to celebrities, social media influencers, and athletes to refrain from endorsing online gambling and called on law enforcement agencies to target illegal online gambling platforms.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed stricter regulation including a PHP10,000 minimum cash-in requirement, banning gambling sponsorships for public events and political campaigns, and funding rehabilitation programs through regulatory fees.