Senator Proposes Online Gambling Ban to Shield Vulnerable Filipinos
Senator Loren Legarda has introduced a bill aimed at imposing a comprehensive ban on all forms of online gambling in the Philippines. This bold proposal seeks to protect the most vulnerable Filipinos from the rising dangers of internet-based betting platforms.
According to sources, the rapid shift from traditional casinos to smartphone gaming has escalated addiction, exploitation, and financial risks. “Anybody with access to the internet could easily log on to online betting platforms, and has blurred the lines between regulation and unregulated gaming,” Legarda said.
She emphasized that online gambling has especially endangered minors, students, and low-income individuals. Many have fallen into destructive financial habits that harm both them and their families.
Scope of the Proposed Online Gambling Ban
The bill targets various forms of online betting, including online casinos, e-sabong, digital lotteries, virtual slot machines, and sports wagering. Beyond banning participation, the proposal also prohibits publishing, advertising, endorsing, or promoting gambling content on digital platforms.
To enforce this law, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will collaborate to issue takedown or blocking orders for illegal gambling sites.
Strict Enforcement Measures Under the Bill
The legislation mandates internet service providers to act within 48 hours to block, monitor, and report gambling platforms. Failure to comply may result in fines or revocation of their licenses. Individuals caught violating the ban face imprisonment from six months to one year or fines ranging from P300,000 to P500,000.
Companies involved will be fined between P500,000 and P1,000,000, and responsible officers may face imprisonment for up to three years.
Addressing Social and Psychological Harms
Legarda highlighted the lack of safeguards allowing minors to bypass age restrictions, exposing them to financial, psychological, and social dangers. “Uncontrolled gambling by many has caused irreparable damage to their families, leading to domestic violence, gambling-linked crimes, and perhaps even murder and suicide,” she lamented.
She urged society to stop glamorizing online gambling, warning that many, including children, have suffered from addiction and struggled to recover.
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