Manila: The Senate may impose a total ban on online gambling if regulators fail to craft clear and effective safeguards against its social harms. Senator Erwin Tulfo, who chairs the Committee on Games and Amusement, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that most members favor a ban but are giving the government a chance to demonstrate stricter regulation through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo mentioned in a radio interview that while the majority of the committee supports a total ban, the government is urging them to consider regulation instead, given the significant revenue involved. "Kaya nga gusto sana namin majority na member ng Committee on Games and Amusement ay total ban. Pero nakiki-usap ang gobyerno. ire-regulate namin through Pagcor itong online gambling na ito kasi 60 billion is 60 billion," Tulfo stated, emphasizing the PHP60 billion in revenue at stake.

Tulfo expressed his approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' recent directive to remove in-app links to gambling from e-wallets. However, he also stressed the need for a complete block on payments to gambling sites to further curb the issue.

The senator noted that data from Pagcor reveals a concerning trend, with 30 million Filipinos reportedly engaging in gambling activities, 60 percent of whom do so through illegal platforms. The figures underscore the potential social harms that the Senate aims to address through either stringent regulation or a total ban if necessary.