Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito filed on Tuesday, July 8 a resolution asking the Senate to look into the rapid proliferation of online gambling in the Philippines. 

In his resolution, Ejercito lamented that online gambling has become a widespread activity among Filipinos particularly minimum wage earners, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and even minors due to its accessibility through smartphones and integration into e-wallet applications. 

“There is undeniably a whole gambling ecosystem thriving online. Mobile phones have become more than a one-stop-shop but a haven for online gamblers or player-bettors far from the reach of their concerned families and friends,” Ejercito said in a resolution.

“Sadly, what appeared to be a harmless way to kill time or occasionally have fun has damaged not only the financial wellbeing of some Filipinos, but also their relationship with their families,” he added.

In a forum at the Senate, Ejercito said it is necessary for Congress to ascertain ways to regulate online gambling as he believes the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has the power to regulate or restrict these online gambling applications. 

“I’m sorry to say but GCash and other similar apps make it easy for just anybody else to bet using their application,” he pointed out. 

“So maybe, it’s been said many times before, that they shouldn’t allow their business to be a conduit. And yet once you open their app, they have advertisements on different gaming,” he said.

“On that note, I think, initially, we can have an investigation on that. I think that NTC has the power to regulate or prohibit GCash and other similar entities to not let themselves be conduits for online gambling,” Ejercito said. 

Ejercito said the Senate probe may also help determine whether or not a total ban or just a simple regulation would help combat the ill-effects of online gambling

Aside from him, Ejercito noted that other colleagues in the Senate have filed similar bills—either calling for a total ban or regulating—online gambling. 

“So we will see how we can consolidate this. We will weigh our actions based on the outcome of the committee hearings that will be held, probably when we resume session,“ he said. 

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said she supports banning gambling access in e-wallets and super apps to address the issue on online gambling addiction. 

“Phones are not casinos. It became too easy to get addicted to gambling because it became accessible on e-wallets and super apps,” Hontiveros noted.

“Let’s also put a stop to the numerous billboards, commercials and social media ads promoting online gambling. This is like an attempt to encourage our countrymen to fall. This vice should not be tolerated,” she said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also echoed the call for e-wallet firms and other digital platforms to stop enabling online gambling, saying these companies should be part of the solution and not the problem.

“My advice to e-wallet platforms: Help the nation. Don’t let your platforms be used for gambling,” Cayetano said.

“Don’t wait for the government to release guidelines—do it yourself. Anyway, most of you are earning much in this type of business,” he also said.