MANILA, Philippines — During a Senate ways and means committee hearing on three proposals to outlaw all online gaming and betting, Alejandro Tengco, chair of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), stated that the organization opposes bills that would completely ban online gaming sites.
According to Tengco, a complete prohibition would be unjust to the respectable POGO and internet gaming hubs that pay taxes and help the government collect money. He pointed out that if a complete ban on POGO and online gaming is passed into law, the government might lose up to P40 billion.
Tengco told the Senate panel, “I think P40 billion is a big amount if we forgo that said amount in these difficult times that everyone is facing today.”
According to Tengco, PAGCOR made P17.5 billion from online gaming in the first half of 2024. By the end of the year, the organization is expected to have collected up to P42 billion in license fees.
Tengco wanted to regulate the online gaming industry and encourage illicit gaming companies to register with PAGCOR rather than outright outlaw online games.
According to Tengco, the government would make an extra P200 billion to P250 billion if these illegal gambling sites were included in the law.
Although Tengco supports POGO regulation, he stated that if the Marcos administration decides to expel offshore gambling hubs because of their criminal activity, he would not be against a ban.
The purpose of the hearing, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, was to raise awareness of the potential negative social effects of online gaming, including addiction to gambling in slot machines, casinos, bingo, and other virtual numbers of games.
In light of the kidnappings and enforced disappearances of cockfight enthusiasts who were addicted to e-sabong, he stated that it is necessary to investigate digital online betting platforms.
Because POGOs are involved in human trafficking, hacking, torture, scams, and other horrible crimes, the senator insisted that they should be completely prohibited.
