‘New problems to further sprout with gambling ban’

MANILA, Philippines — While intentions are noble, proposals to ban online gambling would only give birth to more problems, pushing operators to go underground and eventually depriving the government of much-needed revenues, a consultancy firm warned.

As lawmakers file measures to ban online gambling given its social implications, advisory firm Arden Consult argued that doing so will only create a host of new problems for the government.

Tonet Quiogue, gaming lawyer and Arden Consult founder and CEO, said this include unenforceable mandates, invasion of privacy, loss of legitimate economic activity and a boom for illegal operators.

“It is far wiser to target the true problems, which are unlicensed gambling and problem gambling, with precision tools rather than wield a sledgehammer that misses the target and breaks the surrounding structure,” Quiogue said.

The firm acknowledged that the intentions to put a stop on gambling activities are commendable amid the need to protect the youth, shield society from addiction and crime and uphold moral values.

However, it also maintained that good intentions do not automatically make good laws.

As things stand, Quiogue noted that what the Philippines need is not a new set of laws but rather stronger enforcement, more coordinated implementation and better support for the policies that already exist.

Amid the issue, the gaming expert said the real enemy is illegal gambling or those operations that bypass all regulations, pay no taxes and offer no player protections.

Quiogue said that if the goal is eliminate the social ills of gambling, the approach should be toward illicit operations and not the entire industry and legitimate stakeholders.

She added that the tools to police illegal online gambling are already there but sharpening them must be done.

As such, the consultancy firm pushed for stricter regulation, not prohibition, as this would strike the better balance between individual freedom and public interest.

“It allows the government to keep gambling visible and controllable, to intervene when there is fraud or abuse and to channel economic gains to the public good,” Quiogue said.

More specifically, the government is urged to target illegal gambling by imposing stiffer penalties for unlicensed operators and facilitators.

Quiogue said these are entities that deliberately evade regulatory oversight, bypass know-your-customer protocols and often target vulnerable communities through aggressive marketing and influencer-based promotions.

Further, the government is encouraged to authorize a swift administrative or judicial process to obtain takedown or block orders against websites offering unlicensed gambling.

“Illegal domains can proliferate quickly so authorities need the ability to block mirror sites and new domains in real time,” Quiogue said.

Last month, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has introduced a portal that would allow the public to verify the legitimacy of online gaming providers amid rising fraudulent sites.

The PAGCOR Guarantee website aims to crack down on illegal online games by helping players easily identify and verify whether a certain gaming site is duly licensed before they play and pay.

The PAGCOR Guarantee site features a regularly updated list of licensed e-gaming platforms under the agency’s oversight. Players can also directly enter the gaming sites through the page.

Moreover, Arden Consult maintained that the current issue is an opportunity for lawmakers to craft a comprehensive, fair and evidence-based policy on online gambling.

Quiogue said this means  engaging stakeholders – regulators, law enforcement, operators, mental health professionals and even the players themselves – in a dialogue about how to make online gambling safer.

“The Philippines can position itself as a regional model for smart gambling regulation, balancing innovation with responsibility,” she said.