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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Pagcor takes stand against illegal online gaming, calls for public support

Pagcor takes stand against illegal online gaming, calls for public support

Published Feb 16, 2024 07:58 am

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is urging the public to stop patronizing illegal online gaming following the government's crackdown on another unlicensed operation in Parañaque City.

Alejandro H. Tengco, Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer, said that 12 individuals suspected of involving in illegal online gaming operations were arrested on Friday, Feb. 16, in a subdivision in Parañaque City.

Tengco said the arrests were carried out by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in collaboration with Pagcor's monitoring team.

“The raiders were armed with a warrant to search, seize and examine operations of computer data against the suspects who were caught red-handed while operating the illegal online gaming platform https://www.tbb888.com or the Big Bet,” Tengco said.

The illicit gambling website has been offering games such as slot machines, live casino, e-sports, among others.

Authorities confiscated 11 computer sets, 21 mobile phones, two iPads, six laptops, and flash drives from the suspects.

An onsite examination revealed that the seized devices contained evidence of the group’s illegal online activities, Raul Villanueva, Pagcor senior vice president for security and monitoring cluster said.

Villanueva said that cases will be filed against the suspects before the Parañaque Regional Trial Court.

“The operation was part of our unified efforts to intensify the fight against illegal online gambling because we have a marching order from PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco to put a stop to these illegal activities,” Villanueva said.

“We will continuously collaborate with law enforcement authorities such as the PNP and even the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to put a stop to these,” he added.

“We advise the public to stop patronizing illegal online gaming sites and instead play on legal platforms to protect themselves. Unfortunantely, most of the victims of these illegal sites are Filipino bettors,” the official said.

“We are also working closely with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center under the Department of Information and Communications Technology because we have a lot more targets under surveillance,” Villanueva concluded.

According to Villanueva, close to 5,000 illegal online gaming sites were operating in the country at one time but 80 percent of these were already blocked.

“We need to consistently monitor and report them to authorities not only to protect the bettors but to also ensure that revenues from regulated gaming are channeled back to the government for its nation-building programs,” he said.

Related Tags

Illegal gambling PAGCOR Alejandro Tengco
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