Despite the Philippine Congress passing a bill that completely bans offshore gaming operators (POGO), Senator Alan Peter Cayetano recently warned that online gambling is still rapidly expanding within the Philippines, particularly with increased local betting, and the problem is far from over.
"Although we have banned POGO, the scale of online gambling has grown even larger, and most of the bettors are Filipinos," Cayetano stated in a press release. He urged the upcoming 20th Congress, which will take office in July, to continue investigating and regulating local online gambling issues without further delay.
Cayetano made this call during the last session of the 19th Congress. He also affirmed the unanimous passage of the "Anti-POGO Bill" by all senators and specifically thanked Senator Risa Hontiveros for her crucial role in pushing the legislation forward through multiple hearings and investigations.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate on its third reading on June 9, explicitly prohibiting any form of offshore gambling operations from being established, operated, or serviced in the Philippines. The House of Representatives also passed this version of the bill, giving it legislative power.
Once officially enacted, the bill will authorize the President's Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to lead an "Administrative Oversight Committee" tasked with tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of the ban to prevent POGO or its variants from "re-shelling and flowing back."
However, Cayetano reminded that combating POGO is just the first step, and the phenomenon of local online gambling in the Philippines should not be overlooked. He pointed out, "15 to 20 years ago, some people had already foreseen the social problems that POGO might bring, and now we have finally taken action. Facing local online gambling, I hope we no longer hesitate."
This stance reflects the Philippine government's dilemma in gambling governance: on one hand, trying to completely block the external infiltration of offshore gambling, and on the other hand, struggling to effectively regulate the thriving local online gambling ecosystem.
Cayetano called on the next Congress to prioritize the consideration of relevant regulatory mechanisms to prevent online gambling from continuing to negatively impact Philippine society, especially targeting risks such as youth addiction, fraudulent activities, and money laundering channels. He emphasized, "If we don't act now, we will pay a greater price in the future."
