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Bettors load their accounts with real money, betting any amount, big or small. It’s the fastest way to win — and the fastest way to lose
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Daily TribuneBettors load their accounts with real money, betting any amount, big or small. It’s the fastest way to win — and the fastest way to lose
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A shocking new wave of online gambling is sweeping through Manila, preying on the poorest of the poor and raking in massive profits for unscrupulous operators. This insidious scheme targets a fresh breed of gamblers — tech-savvy youth — through various digital platforms, bleeding dry the city’s most vulnerable communities.
DAILY TRIBUNE has confirmed this disturbing trend straight from the source: The bettors themselves. You heard it right — now online gambling rackets like “lotteng” (an upgraded version of the notorious “jueteng” scheme) are luring in ordinary people. With just a P10 bet, a gambler can win P500, making it dangerously appealing to the masses. In Tondo alone, this predatory operation is estimated to collect a staggering P250,000 weekly.
Then there’s “Lucky Nine” online betting, a trap tailor-made for gadget-obsessed youngsters wielding mobile phones, tablets and laptops. No cash changes hands — just digital transactions through money-sending services like GCash.
Bettors load their accounts with real money, betting any amount, big or small. It’s the fastest way to win — and the fastest way to lose. The harsh truth? Only the operators come out on top, reportedly pocketing P500,000 a week from impoverished youth, with growing interest now spreading to older generations.
But it doesn’t stop there. The third scourge is online “sabong” — cockfighting — a practice previously shut down by the government amid public outrage. Yet, it thrives in Manila’s shadows, an underground operation run by ruthless profiteers collecting an estimated 1 million pesos weekly.
Here’s the bombshell from our Tribune source: this latest online gambling empire is allegedly orchestrated by an MPD official, formerly stationed at MPD Police Station 3, known in the underworld as “Mr. Gutti” (sounds French). This figure is said to personally deliver weekly “payola” bribes to police officials, securing full protection for these illegal rackets.
And the plot thickens — a notorious Tondo politician and gambling lord, now eyeing a senatorial seat, is reportedly eager to partner with “Mr. Gutti.” He sees untold potential in this sinister new gambling invention, masterminded by a rogue PNP insider. Stay tuned.
A tale of three T’s, as one would call it, is about three different events that fell on a Thursday. First, the resignation of the former transportation department chief due to health reasons.
Second, when the former Communications head confirmed he had indeed resigned from his post. And then third, the sudden confirmation of the departure of the tech and comms leader, an original member since 2022 from the cabinet.
These three events occurred within a month, or a 30-day period, which was already unusual even with reports that the Big Boss is “evaluating” each government agency.
While it is unconfirmed if the shakeup continues or if they’re indeed under scrutiny, reports of it would most likely fall on a Thursday.
It is not an obvious pattern, maybe just a coincidence? But these past few Thursdays have been a nightmare for the journos who have been bombarded with information that the public needs to know about.
It’s not a news dump, no one is complaining, but there’s something wrong with Thursdays spent at the Palace.
