Senate probe on proliferation of online gambling in social media sought
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid on Friday, March 1 called for an inquiry into the prolfieration of advertisements of online gambling on different social media platforms in the country, saying this could be detrimental to social and mental health.
Lapid said he will file a resolution seeking for a deeper inquiry on the matter noting the huge risk putting young people to be exposed early to gambling on social media platforms.
“This could also harm their values and morality of the government fails to act on it,” Lapid said.
Lapid also said he is concerned that financial technology (FinTech) or mobile wallet services, such as GCash, PayMaya and others platforms may also be exploited for gambling.
"If the youth are getting away with playing online gambling, how can we raise them well and with good values in life,” Lapid said.
“It is sad that our youth good manners will be destroyed by this bad habit and they may even bet their pocket money in school. If worse gets worst, they might learn to steal, like the characters in FPJ's Batang Quiapo," he added, referring to a popular TV series.
The lawmaker noted any person can easily install applications on their mobile phones and other mobile devices for online gambling. It is also easy to register because only name and age are usually required for documentation.
Lapid, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, also noted parents often overlooked this matter.
Among the online gambling that young people are obsessed with today are poker, roulette, color games and others like in casino, he noted.