Malacañang has reaffirmed the government’s ongoing effort to shut down thousands of illegal online gambling platforms that continue to operate in the country, raising alarm over their harmful effects on Filipino families.
Speaking at a Palace briefing on Monday, Press Officer Claire Castro acknowledged the growing concern surrounding the online game known as “Scatter,” which has been associated with gambling addiction in local communities.
While “Scatter” is legally offered on licensed gaming websites regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Castro emphasized that these platforms are equipped with monitoring tools to prevent abuse. She shared insights from Attorney Jeremy Luglug, Assistant Vice President of PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department, who confirmed that families affected by gambling addiction can request that individuals be banned from playing.
“Kapag ito ay inaalok ng licensed gaming websites, ito ay namo-monitor,” Castro said, noting that concerned families can approach PAGCOR to restrict access for problem gamblers.
However, Castro stressed that the bigger issue lies in the proliferation of unauthorized websites. “Mayroon na pong 7,000 illegal gaming websites na naipasara,” she revealed, adding that the government, through PAGCOR and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), continues to track and block new sites as they emerge.
“Hindi po titigil ang PAGCOR at ang DICT sa pagtanggal ng mga ganitong klaseng website,” Castro said, underscoring the challenge posed by operators who constantly change domain names to avoid detection.
Castro urged the public not to support unlicensed platforms, warning against promoting or engaging with schemes that may seem profitable but operate outside the law. She assured that authorities remain relentless in their efforts to dismantle the illegal gambling network.
