Ayuda being gambled away, state profiting from poor — ex-PCGG chief

On Sunday, former Presidential Anti-Graft Commissioner and Maritime Industry Authority Deputy Administrator Atty. Nicasio “Nick” Conti sounded the alarm over the silent yet growing crisis involving government aid, online gambling, and state revenue.

According to Conti, financial assistance or ayuda distributed to low-income Filipinos is increasingly being funneled into digital gambling platforms—particularly Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs)—instead of being spent on food, medicine, or basic needs.

“The tragic irony is that what is meant to lift our people from hunger is ending up in online slot machines and bingo tables,” Conti said. “This isn't just about misplaced priorities—it’s about a government that profits from the desperation of its own people.”

Conti emphasized that PIGOs, which are accessible through mobile phones and apps, have become digital traps for the poor.

“They gamble not because they want to, but because they’re clinging to hope that P500 can turn into P5,000 overnight,” he added.

He pointed out a disturbing correlation between government revenue and the rise of local online gambling. After the controversial ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in December 2024, revenue from PIGOs and electronic gambling surged.

According to official data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), gaming revenue in 2024 reached P112 billion—up 41 percent from P79.4 billion in 2023. Net income also more than doubled to P16.77 billion.

Notably, 50 percent of that revenue came from e-games and e-bingo operations, while POGOs contributed only 3.07 percent prior to the ban.

“This clearly shows that while we shut our doors to foreign gambling operators, we opened our homes to domestic ones—and it's our poorest countrymen who are paying the price,” said Conti. He warned that this setup turns government aid into “state-sanctioned betting capital,” subtly encouraging citizens to gamble instead of helping them escape poverty.

“Worse than the loss of money is the erosion of hope and values,” Conti said. “If we allow this to continue, we’re turning social welfare into state-enabled addiction.” In his Easter Sunday reflection, Conti called on Filipinos and government leaders to rise above this cycle.

“Just as Christ’s resurrection rolled away the stone and brought light to the tomb, we must open our eyes to the truth: that a government earning from gambling losses can never be the savior of the poor,” he said. Conti urged for stronger regulation, financial education, and an end to policies that commodify poverty. “Let us not leave our people’s future to chance,” he concluded. “The resurrection reminds us that change is possible. It’s time we demand a government that gives hope—not just payouts.”