Game over for e-sugal?

The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement will launch an inquiry into the proliferation of online gambling in the country amid the mounting calls for its prohibition.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, the committee chair, said the probe will aim to gather insights from his colleagues on the controversial industry which has been tagged as a “silent epidemic” targeting the Filipino youth.

“I would like to hear from all the members their opinion on online gambling,” Tulfo said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“I’ll definitely ask them what their position is because I’ll tell them upfront what mine is. I’ll say, ‘This is our problem right now, right? We need to stop this.’ But if someone disagrees, I’ll say, ‘I want to listen. I want to hear your side,’” he added.

Tulfo said he would prefer to ban online gambling in the country, citing its negative effects on Filipino households.

“If I had my way, if you ask me personally, I want online gambling to stop. If it were up to me, it should be stopped immediately because the truth is the situation has become harmful,” he said in Filipino.

“There are children no longer attending school, families breaking apart, people drowning in debt, salaries no longer reaching their homes, couples separating, constant arguments, and many workers neglecting their duties. Take the case of that lawmaker caught gambling online, another one was playing card games. Frankly, it’s embarrassing,” he said.

Tulfo, however, stressed that the ultimate decision on whether to ban online gambling is in the hands of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Of course, it’s ultimately up to Malacañang and the executive branch. We in the Senate can only recommend our position for now since there’s no law yet. But if given the chance, and if you ask me personally, I do not support online gambling,” he said.

‘Extremely disappointed’

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri echoed Tulfo’s concern, expressing disappointment after the President failed to address online gambling in his fourth State of the Nation Address last Monday.

“I would like to put on record that I was extremely disappointed that the President did not mention anything about the ills of online gambling in his State of the Nation Address,” Zubiri said in a privilege speech.

The lawmaker particularly pointed out the accessibility of ordinary Filipinos to online gambling through e-wallets, which has become one of the primary modes of payment in the country.

“You can place a bet as soon as you wake up in the morning. You can do it while sitting on the toilet. You can bet in the middle of work, on your commute home, even in the dead of night while lying in bed, just about to sleep, because online gambling never closes. It’s open 24/7,” he said in Filipino.

“It also encourages users to bet whatever amount they want. Even if you’re not wealthy, you’re tempted to gamble because you can bet as little as P20 or P50—some platforms even allow P5 or P10 wagers,” he added.

He continued: “This, my countrymen, is the new jueteng. It’s digital — and it’s now right inside our homes, affecting entire families.”

‘Full support’

Senator Loren Legarda also expressed her full support for a total ban on online gambling, which she said has “become so addictive and pervasive that it has begun to corrode the very fabric of our society.”

“It affects not just individual players but entire families and communities. Ordinary Filipinos, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet, are being lured into these platforms, risking their hard-earned wages and even their entire life savings,” Legarda said in a manifestation.

“We have long regulated access to casinos and other forms of traditional gambling. The requirement of a physical presence and the face-to-face nature of these establishments served as an additional hurdle — one that often made individuals think twice before spending their money,” she said.

Legarda pointed to the “relentless advertising by popular figures and influencers, combined with the easy access provided by electronic wallets and digital platforms,” as contributing to the prevalence of online gambling.

“It is now accessible anytime, anywhere, even to the youth and other vulnerable groups,” she said.

“More than just an issue of regulation, this is now a matter of public welfare, mental health, and economic security. What is at stake is the kind of future we are allowing to take root in our country,” she added.