Senate Focus on Online Gambling Operators
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the importance of identifying those behind online gambling firms as the upcoming Senate hearings commence. He stressed that the hearings should concentrate on the individuals operating these platforms to reveal any possible involvement of politicians or billionaires.
“So we’ll know if there are politicians involved…if there were billionaires, who are these people? Then we’ll inform the public,” the senator said in a chance interview, highlighting the need for transparency regarding the ownership and management of online gambling enterprises.
Challenges in Tackling Online Gambling
Officials reported that Zubiri acknowledged the difficulty of confronting wealthy and influential figures tied to online gambling. “This is a very difficult fight because we’re up against rich people. They’re all millionaire, billionaires, they’re all well-connected,” he explained. He pledged to disclose the identities of officers and owners uncovered during the hearings, promising to share findings with the media.
Involving E-Wallet Service Providers
The senator also revealed plans to summon e-wallet service providers to the hearings. He wants to examine their earnings and the total amount collected from online gambling transactions. “I want to know how much their income is; how much do they collect in totality from these online gambling activities? And how [many] users of online gambling platforms are there?” Zubiri questioned.
Local leaders noted that confirming the number of Filipino gamblers is also a priority. The senator aims to verify the claim that 32 million Filipinos engage in gambling, which would represent nearly one-third of the population. “That’s almost 1/3, a little less than 1/3 of the population already. Imagine, in every household, that’s almost one to two individuals in every household getting addicted to online gambling,” he added.
Impact of BSP’s Directive on E-Wallets
Zubiri expressed gratitude toward the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for ordering e-wallet companies to sever ties with online gambling platforms. “Thank you to BSP. This is such a big win for those who are fighting against online gambling. A lot has been messaging me saying our campaign is a success because they can no longer link with e-wallets like Gcash and PayMaya (for online gambling),” the senator shared.
Community members highlighted that this move is crucial, especially in the provinces where credit card access is limited, making e-wallets the primary payment option. “So this is one big step forward. And we’ll still be discussing other issues during the hearings,” Zubiri said, signaling ongoing efforts to curb online gambling.
Need for Comprehensive Legislation
However, officials reported that some online gambling platforms have quickly adapted by switching to alternative payment methods. This evolution underscores the senator’s call for a stronger legal framework. “That’s why we need a law that would prohibit all platforms—Viber, WhatsApp, all Google platforms. That should all be removed. We need a law, and that’s the only way to stop this menace,” Zubiri declared.
For more news and updates on online gambling platforms, visit Filipinokami.com.