Philippine Senate to start hearings on online gambling bills
The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement will start discussing the bills this week.
The Philippines.- The Philippine Senate will this week start committee hearings on calls to ban or more tightly regulate online gambling. Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, said the committee will start discussing the bills on Thursday (August 14).
The Senate Games and Amusement Panel will look at four bills and three resolutions, and a privilege speech on the ill effects of the online gambling industry. The committee will direct government agencies like the Department of Finance and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to submit cost-benefit analysis and details of implications on employment as well as social costs.
Tulfo said of his position: “I made a commitment to prioritise these measures because our problem concerning online gambling is getting worse. This is already a crisis,” and added: “We need to act on this, to solve this problem.”
Last week, president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced plans to hold a meeting of stakeholders to explore a response to concerns over online gambling while avoiding calls for a ban. He cited a need for a balanced policy that tackles social harms without fuelling the unregulated market. Marcos said the gathering will include the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), parents of young people affected by gambling and potential regulators to determine the best regulatory path forward.
He said the conference will examine all policy options, aiming to finalise a framework that addresses addiction, prevents underage gambling, and safeguards the public without inadvertently expanding the illegal sector.
