Senator Erwin Tulfo, the newly elected chairperson of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, expressed strong confidence on Wednesday that his committee would take a firm stance against online gambling. He is preparing to convene a hearing to examine the growing social impact of this issue.
“I can convince them that our stand will be: no to online gambling. If you ask me right now, I’d say total ban on online gaming,” Tulfo stated during a press briefing.
He announced that the committee would soon conduct a hearing and invite all relevant stakeholders, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the Department of Finance, and representatives from the executive branch, as well as youth, parents, schools, and religious organizations. “We want to listen. Let me hear you. Then from there we can talk,” he added.
Tulfo emphasized that any discussion regarding regulation must be supported by stronger safeguards, noting that current systems allow easy access to gambling, even for minors. He raised concerns about the accessibility of gambling through mobile payment platforms, saying, “I open my GCash app and there’s gambling. What if my child in the province receives his allowance and sees those games and plays? Where’s the control?”
Additionally, he condemned a viral video showing a lawmaker watching e-sabong (online cockfighting) during the opening session of the 20th Congress, calling the act “very frustrating” and “a disgrace.” He remarked, “You’re in Congress, that’s your job. It doesn’t matter if the vote to choose the Speaker is boring. Wait for it, that’s your job.”
Tulfo expressed concern that online gambling is becoming dangerously normalized across various sectors, including banks, schools, and public spaces. He reiterated that if regulation proves ineffective, the committee would seriously consider pursuing a total ban on online gambling.