The prevalence of illegal gambling in the Philippines is growing, but the authorities are not backing down in their fight against it. Recently, the Philippine gaming regulator issued a warning aimed at combatting unauthorized gambling in the country.
According to the regulator, anyone who participates in such activities will be subject to punishment under Philippine law. The warning was issued as a consequence of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp’s (Pagcor) notice, which revealed the expansion of illegal online betting operations and other forms of unauthorized gambling activities in the country.
Pagcor has been receiving numerous reports of the expanding illegal gambling scene, which is a cause for concern. As a strong advocate for the gaming industry’s rights in the country, Pagcor supports gaming, including responsible gaming, but only if it is carried out under regulated circumstances and online gaming operations.
However, one of the lawmakers in the Philippines is pushing to shut down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), a sector of online gaming providers licensed by Pagcor. If the lawmaker’s efforts prove successful, this sector may be closed this year. POGOs’ primary role is to provide overseas clients with gaming content and services.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believes that the POGO sector has a significant impact on the rapidly growing illegal gambling scene in the country, which also affects the Philippines’ law enforcement agencies.
Andrea Domingo, Pagcor’s chairman, has prioritized the online gaming industry in the country, which has led to many irregularities. However, Pagcor has recently emphasized its commitment to maintaining the industry’s integrity at the highest level, including offshore gaming.
In March, Pagcor terminated its contract with a third-party auditor, who was the reason why POGOs were audited in the first place. Pagcor claimed that the same service provider failed to fulfill its obligations carefully and had committed unlawful acts.
Illegal gambling is a serious issue in the Philippines, and the authorities are working hard to tackle it. We urge everyone to support this cause by avoiding unauthorized gambling and following the country’s regulations on gaming.
