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IN LINE WITH the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)’s campaign to curb online gambling in the country, the agency’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is now working with both the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to take down illegal online gambling sites.
Accordingly, the government will also be going after influencers who promote illegal gambling platforms as these have been monitored to be aggravating the problem in recent times.
“It’s part of our threat monitoring center. Pag nakakita tayo, binabato natin sa kanila for verification . . . Marami-rami na rin tayong napa-block na sites. I have 150 more sites, pending certification from PAGCor para i-block,” CICC deputy executive director Renato Paraiso disclosed.
“From a legal perspective, they’re part of a conspiracy to promote illegal gambling so they are part of that criminal organization. So sa lahat po ng mga influencers na nagpopromote ng illegal gambling, pinagtitibay na namin iyong mga batas na gagamitin namin para habulin po kayo so kung ako sa inyo, tigilan niyo na,” he added.
[A]mid the filing of several proposed bills aimed at curbing online gambling, PAGCor… declared that they will follow any regulation once they are passed into law.
MINOR BETTORS
Paraiso likewise announced that in order to deter minors from participating in online gambling activities, the CICC is helping PAGCor and PCSO in strengthening their registration and “Know-Your-Customer” guidelines.
But he admits that there are some who are still able to cheat the system such as by lying about their age.
“Ang suggestion namin is idikit na ito sa national ID as the single source of truth. Kung wala kang national ID, hindi ka registered, ibig sabihin kaduda-duda iyong mga ipi-present mong credentials to prove your age . . . Kapag national ID kasi hindi na mapepeke iyan e,” the CICC official pointed out.
BILL PROPOSED
Meanwhile, amid the filing of several proposed bills aimed at curbing online gambling, PAGCor chairman and chief-executive-officer Alejandro Tengco declared that they will follow any regulation once they are passed into law.
Sources in both Houses of Congress revealed that there are some lawmakers who are intent on pushing for an outright ban while others want to prohibit betting games using electronic wallets.
“It is the prerogative of our lawmakers to propose laws which they think will be beneficial to the public. PAGCor is duty-bound to follow any and all relevant regulations once they are passed by Congress and signed into law by the President,” Tengco stressed.
Tengco also assured the public that it is intensifying its crackdown against illegal online gaming activities, together with like-minded agencies and organizations and with the support of all gaming industry stakeholders.