A growing group of lawmakers, regulators and public health advocates is sounding the alarm over the unchecked rise of online gambling in the Philippines, warning that addiction, debt, and crime linked to digital betting platforms are escalating into a full-blown national crisis.
Following a Senate hearing last week, Senator Rodante “Dante” Marcoleta urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to live up to its regulatory mandate in order to stop the “social ogre” that is online gambling.
“PAGCOR has the regulatory powers here; we are barking up the wrong tree,” Marcoleta said, stressing that the agency has long held the legal authority to oversee online operators.
His comments came after the Bangko Sentral ng…