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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Masahol pa sa POGO': Villanueva says there's no justification for online gambling

'Masahol pa sa POGO': Villanueva says there's no justification for online gambling

Published Jul 16, 2025 02:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Joel Villanueva bats for a total ban on online gambling, as he warns Filipinos of its harm to society's moral fabric.
The end simply doesn't  justify the means for Senator Joel Villanueva when it comes to online gambling.
Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate PRIB photo)
"We are destroying the moral fiber of our society. So hindi ko ho makita yung justification na kikita kasi ang pamahalaan versus the damages na ating nararanasan na po ngayon (So I don’t see the justification that the government is earning revenue versus the damages we are already experiencing now)," he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
Villanueva is among the senators who are hoping that President Marcos bares his stand on online gambling during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28.
"Ang expectation ko number one, ma-ban nang totally itong online gambling dahil itong online gambling masahol pa po ito sa POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operators) e," he said.
(My number one expectation is for online gambling to be totally banned, because this kind of gambling is even worse than POGO.)
In response to the growing exposure of Filipinos to gambling, the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has ordered all gaming licensees, operators, suppliers, and system administrators to take down all gambling-related billboards and other out-of-home advertisements.
Gambling ads will also be banned on television from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. But for Villanueva, this is not enough.
“I don’t think it’s enough. I really think we have to ban online gambling if we want to start yung clean slate," he said.
"Kasi pagka tingi-tingi yung ating polisiya para ayusin at talagang siguruhin na nasa tamang direksyon tayo, hindi po magiging epektibo yung sasabihin natin, lagyan ng limit, etc. Bakit hindi natin i-totally ban tapos saka natin tignan ano yung mga pupuwede nating gawin? (Because if our policies are piecemeal in fixing things and ensuring we’re headed in the right direction, what we’re saying—like setting limits and so on—will not be effective. Why don’t we impose a total ban first and then see what adjustments we can make later?)” Villanueva explained.
Senator Raffy Tulfo is set to file a bill seeking a total ban on online gambling in the country next week. Villanueva and Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri have previously filed separate bills also aiming to outlaw online gambling.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill seeking to regulate online gambling by banning gambling sponsorships of public events and campaign donations, while Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to outlaw online gambling access in e-wallets and super apps.

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