PAGCOR rejects ban, favors stricter online gambling rules

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said it does not support a total ban on online gambling but backs stricter regulation, as lawmakers file bills seeking tighter controls or prohibition.

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PAGCOR Chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco argued that a ban on online gambling would neither curb addiction nor halt its growth, and said tighter regulation would at least allow the agency to exercise oversight.

"Regulation is the key and the answer, and not total ban. Sapagkat 'pag tinotal ban mo 'yan, mas mabibigatan at magkakaproblema ang ating mga kababayan sapagkat wala nang kontrol. Wala nang regulasyon lalong maagrabyado ang ating kapwang Pilipino," he told DZMM on Tuesday, July 8. (Regulation is the key and the answer, not a total ban. Because if you implement a total ban, our fellow Filipinos will face greater burdens and problems. There will be no control, no regulation, and our fellow Filipinos will be even more disadvantaged.)

Tengco also said that while online gambling is still relatively new, it now accounts for up to half of the gambling industry. "Online gaming is in its birth pains, bago pa lang po ito, unfortunately, because of the advances of technology, wala na po tayo magagawa," he added.

(Online gaming is in its birth pains, but this is still new, unfortunately, because of the advances of technology, we could not do anything about it.)

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