Senator Raffy Tulfo has thrown his support behind the growing call in the Senate to ban online gambling in the Philippines, describing it as a dangerous “addiction epidemic” preying on vulnerable sectors, particularly the poor and the youth.
During a press briefing on Monday, Tulfo shared alarming complaints about public utility drivers being caught playing online gambling games like “scatter” while on duty. “We have an epidemic of gambling, and it’s about time we help each other to find a cure,” he said, stressing the urgent need to act.
Rather than regulating the practice, Tulfo said he is preparing to file a bill that would impose an outright ban on all forms of online gambling. He argued that regulation would only push people to find loopholes, making enforcement ineffective.
Tulfo also took aim at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Advertising Board of the Philippines, demanding that online gambling advertisements—especially those on highways—be removed immediately, rather than waiting for the August 15 deadline. “More people will get addicted between now and Aug. 15. Why wait when we can do it now to stop the problem from worsening?” he urged.
To offset any lost revenues from a gambling ban, Tulfo proposed redirecting funds from online gambling proceeds into existing social welfare budgets. He also called for the inclusion of online payment platforms in the proposed legislation to prevent digital wallets from being used to fund bets.
