Responsible gaming
BORACAY, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has approved nearly 40,000 requests from gamblers seeking to bar themselves from betting, as the regulator intensifies its campaign to promote responsible gaming and address gambling-related harm.
PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said applications for self-exclusion, a program that allows individuals to voluntarily block themselves from licensed casinos and online gambling platforms, have surged since the agency strengthened the initiative in June.
“In the last six months, we have approved close to about 40,000 applications for self-exclusion,” Tengco told reporters on the sidelines of the opening of Kaban Boracay over the weekend.
He said the number represented a sharp increase from fewer than 2,000 previously, reflecting growing participation in the government’s efforts to help individuals struggling with gambling problems.
“That only goes to show that our system is working,” Tengco said.
Under the program, individuals who recognize that their gambling habits are becoming problematic may request to be prohibited from participating in gambling activities.
Immediate family members, including spouses, parents and adult children, may also request the exclusion of relatives experiencing gambling-related problems.
Approved individuals are included in PAGCOR’s National Database of Restricted Persons, which gaming establishments use to identify people prohibited from gambling.
The PAGCOR chief said the agency had underestimated the demand for the program, although he viewed the surge in applications as an indication that more gamblers were becoming willing to seek assistance.
He expects applications to continue increasing as awareness of the program improves.
Beyond self-exclusion, PAGCOR has expanded its responsible gaming initiatives through the National Problem Gambling Helpline, which provides round-the-clock assistance to individuals and families affected by gambling.
Launched on May 26 in partnership with Seagulls Flock Organization Inc., the hotline connects callers with trained counselors who can provide confidential support and referrals for further treatment.
The regulator has also directed gaming operators to promote the helpline through gambling-related advertisements to make assistance more accessible.
Tengco emphasized that responsible gaming safeguards must accompany the continued expansion of the country’s gaming industry, covering both traditional casinos and increasingly popular online gambling platforms.
His remarks came amid concerns raised by Catholic bishops over the possible social and moral implications of casino operations on Boracay Island.
Tengco said the newly opened Kaban Boracay casino would strictly prohibit residents of Malay, Aklan, where Boracay is located, from entering its gaming premises.
He said government officials and employees, as well as individuals below 21 years old, would likewise be barred from gambling. The casino would implement identity verification procedures to enforce these restrictions.
He acknowledged that concerns about gambling-related harm should serve as a reminder for regulators to balance industry expansion with stronger consumer protection.