More than 41,000 people have been arrested for illegal gambling in the Philippines this year
Philippines's determined efforts to combat illegal gambling are paying off. Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) shows that a large number of arrests have been made since the beginning of the year as a result of operations specifically targeting illegal gambling.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported on Tuesday that police arrested some 41,000 people in a crackdown on the illegal gambling industry. Most involve online gaming.
The move comes at a time when the country's gaming industry is undergoing major changes. While some forms of online gambling have become extremely popular recently, they are also riddled with corruption, leading to their abolishment.
POGO, eSabong notification
The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and eSabong sectors have experienced serious problems recently. POGOs once brought millions of dollars in revenue to the Philippines. But attempts to raise tax rates have become a problem.
This has led many operators to adopt questionable methods in conducting business, including human trafficking, exploitation, coercion and other crimes. As a result, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the country’s gambling regulator and lawmakers set out to root out the criminal elements.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has revoked dozens of POGO licenses over the past two years while trying to maintain the industry’s reputation. The move largely failed as lawmakers sought a blanket ban on POGOs.
eSabong, the online cockfight betting, has also come under attack. She is also responsible for bringing in millions of dollars in revenue to the Philippines. But corruption ruined it.
Police are still investigating missing persons linked to eSabong, and the PNP has also had to “arrest” several kidnappers in connection with the activity. The end comes suddenly when a young mother tries to sell her newborn baby to pay off her eSabong gambling debts.
In May 2022, eSabong went from an approved activity to a prohibited activity. However, this did not stop the betting and instead increased the pressure on the PNP.
Help is coming
National Police’s new chief, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Akoda Jr., has strengthened several units, giving them more power to combat illegal gambling. Despite Akoda's admission of obstacles, the PNP's anti-cybercrime team has been working overtime to complete its mission.
According to his comments to PNA, one of the biggest challenges is legislation. He stressed that gambling laws are not detailed enough when it comes to online gambling. This makes it harder to prosecute those the PNP considers to have violated the law.
Legislative reform is underway to change this, but progress is slow. The PNP, however, received help from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PAGCOR.
PCSO and PAGCOR are supporting the police operation. PCSO is part of the Office of the President and raises funds for national health programs through lotteries and raffles. This puts it very close to President Ferdinand “Bongbang” Marcos.
Despite the recent problems with the Legislature, PAGCOR is doing its part. The company has not only cracked down on licensing, but is now part of Clark's Safety Advisory Council.
The new organization was born out of the recent scandal that freed more than 1,000 victims of human trafficking in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. They were forced to work as slaves for illegal gambling companies, call centers and more before the police finally got involved.
The combined efforts of various approaches are expected to provide a major boost to the PNP. While illegal gambling will always be a problem, tighter controls can prevent it from getting out of hand.
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Source: www.casino.org
