“What’s more important — money or the future of the youth?”
During his visit to India, President Ferdinand Marcos talked about creating a conclave to discuss the future of online gambling, amidst all the demands for a ban from the catholic church and the Philippine Senate.
Just a day later, Erwin Tulfo, the chairman of the Senate Games and Amusements Committee, announced that it will lead the inquiry on the future of online gaming, discussing its repercussions on society, and potentially find a way forward as the fate of online gambling hangs in the balance.
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From Aug. 14 onwards, the Philippines’ Senate committee will discuss the bills and proposals 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,” said Tulfo on the matter.
The Philippine Senate has openly expressed a desire for a complete ban on online gambling, suggesting that tightening regulations will only see an influx of illegal operators. “Even kids were gambling,” he said. “What’s more important [—] money or the future of the youth?"
Even though Tulfo has a clear-cut view on online gambling, he’s willing to assess its impact and potential future with stakeholders, PAGCOR, and DOF members.
President Marcos' statement, on the other hand, suggests a complete ban isn’t on the horizon. “I don’t want to influence anyone’s opinion here until we hear from the group who will be examining the question. But in my opinion, a ban will not take care of the problem. We have to be a little bit more measured in our response,” he said during a media event in Bengaluru, India.
The Philippine government is aggressively introducing regulations to refine online gambling and combat its side effects. The Philippine central bank plans to impose restrictions on online gambling transactions to increase consumer protection.
Meanwhile, several licensed operators have formed the PlaySafe Alliance to protect online gambling and combat illegal operators.
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