Senator Christopher “Bong” Go isn’t holding back, saying it’s time to completely ban online gambling and POGOs, warning that they give Filipinos, especially the poor, false hope while quietly destroying lives.

“The time is now to ban online gambling as well as POGOs from the country and stop giving our people, particularly the poor, false hopes,” Go said, renewing his call to criminalize all forms of online gambling.

Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. didn’t mention the issue in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) last Monday, Go said the urgency remains.

“Whether or not it was mentioned in the SoNA, we’re pushing through,” he said. “In fact, I already filed Senate Bill No. 686 on 16 July.”

Go described online gambling as a growing social menace, eroding family values and targeting those who could least afford it.

“It’s heartbreaking. You see drivers spending the money meant for milk and food for their kids on online gambling. It’s just too easy to get hooked — some don’t even realize they’re already gambling. They look like they’re texting, but they’re betting away,” he said.

What the bill proposes

Senate Bill No. 686 seeks to make all forms of internet-based betting — whether on desktops or mobile — illegal in the country. It proposes strict penalties for those who run, promote, and profit from online gambling, and even tougher sanctions for public officials involved.

Go said the measure draws strength from the Constitution, which calls on the state to protect public morals and promote a just, poverty-free society.

“This is about protecting the vulnerable,” he said. “Online gambling preys on the poor, encourages addiction, and causes financial ruin. It also leads to criminal behavior — there are cases of people taking digital loans just to gamble, and even minors are being targeted.”

If passed, the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025 will also ban advertising related to online gambling and void any legal basis for allowing it to continue. Public officials caught supporting such platforms could face the harshest penalties, including lifetime disqualification from public service.

POGOs in the crosshairs

Alongside this bill, Go is backing a separate measure — Senate Bill No. 2868 — that would outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. That bill has already cleared both houses of Congress.

“We need a law to finally make this a crime,” he said.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, Go emphasized the threat online gambling poses to young Filipinos.

“This isn’t just about protecting kids — it’s about protecting all Filipinos from falling into the trap of gambling addiction,” he stressed.