Summary
- The PlaySafe Alliance has applauded the recent Senate hearing for shedding light on the significant issues surrounding gambling and the harm it causes.
- The organization is convinced that unregulated and offshore gambling activities are responsible for these issues.
- To truly tackle these pressing issues, the organization believes it's crucial to strengthen the regulated market while curbing the influence of unregulated and offshore operators.
The PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines, a new coalition of 18 licensed gambling operators in the nation, has praised a recent Senate hearing for its constructive role in shaping the future of domestic online gambling. Quickly formed amidst rumors, the Alliance emerged in a climate buzzing with speculation that President Bongbong Marcos might bow to political pressure and impose a total ban on online gambling.
Establishing the problems related to gambling harm that need to be overcome
Despite the substantial evidence indicating that such actions are misguided at best, the PlaySafe Alliance issued a statement on Monday, asserting that the Senate's hearing had accurately framed the situation: "We applaud the Senate for bringing to light a crucial reality during its proceedings: the issues of underage access, uncontrolled betting, and financial distress arise from illegal, unlicensed platforms, not from operators licensed by Pagcor.” Through this declaration, the PlaySafe Alliance echoed its support for the Senate's understanding that the real dangers do not come from the regulated gambling industry, but from offshore and unlawful gambling operators, which are not bound by the standards set by PAGCOR for licensed operators. The organization stressed that a well-structured regulatory framework helps distinguish effective measures from ineffective ones, warning that a total ban could lead to unforeseen repercussions. Additionally, most Filipinos don’t want online gambling to disappear; rather, they value licensed and regulated services. Meanwhile, the offshore market, which currently commands half of the Philippines' gambling sector, bypasses tax obligations and fails to contribute to the local economy.
Lawmakers need to focus on battering the offshore and unregulated market
The PlaySafe Alliance praised the efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in enhancing consumer protection by ordering e-wallets to halt transactions to online gambling sites. Yet, the Alliance stands firm on its original belief: restricting licensed gambling operators from accessing legitimate payment routes could harm both businesses and their customers, inadvertently enriching the unregulated gambling sector. Disconnecting licensed operators from online payment platforms won't stop gambling, the organization emphasized. Instead, it risks driving players into the shadowy depths of the Internet, where activity is hidden, taxes vanish, and the potential for harm grows unchecked.
