Facing the increasingly high calls for a "total ban on online gambling" in Philippine society, the three major casino resorts in Manila—Solaire, Newport World Resorts, and OKADA Manila—issued a rare joint statement on July 12, firmly opposing the "one-size-fits-all" policy. The three companies emphasized in the statement that their online gambling platforms are legally authorized by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), operate legally and compliantly, and call on the public to rationally view the development and regulation of the industry.
The three resorts pointed out that the current online platforms are an extension service of traditional casinos, and their establishment fully complies with PAGCOR regulations. All players must complete real-name verification within 72 hours after registration, and the platform also uses IP positioning and geofencing technology to block foreign users. At the same time, the system has built-in anti-money laundering mechanisms, risk control reviews, and transaction monitoring to strictly prevent illegal activities.
The statement also specifically mentioned that the platform games are driven by random number generators certified by PAGCOR and are subject to regular audits to ensure game fairness. Related advertising content also needs to be approved by the advertising regulatory agency and PAGCOR to ensure it does not mislead the public. To prevent user addiction, the platform is equipped with recharge limit reminders, a "self-exclusion" option, and underage restriction mechanisms.
In terms of data security, the three platforms claim to strictly implement the "Data Privacy Act", ensuring the security of user data and funds through encrypted transmission, hierarchical permission management, and server isolation. In addition, all employees must be certified to work and receive regular compliance training. The companies also have risk audit and independent supervision systems internally to enhance transparency and accountability mechanisms.
It is worth noting that this week, 14 online platforms licensed by PAGCOR have jointly issued a statement opposing the total ban. The statement warns that if a blanket ban is implemented, it may prompt Filipino players to flow into the black market, exacerbating the spread of illegal gambling and threatening national regulatory and tax interests.
The statement also points out that among 195 countries globally, only 18 implement a total ban on gambling, and most are in countries with extreme political situations like North Korea, Iran, and Somalia. Historical experience shows that a "total ban" is difficult to eradicate illegal gambling.
The three major casinos ultimately call on the government to protect the normal operating environment and employment positions of legal enterprises while cracking down on illegal activities, to avoid mistakenly harming law-abiding operators and disrupting the normal industry order.
