The President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to consult with various sectors before making a decision on whether to ban online gambling in the country. According to him, the church, parents, and other groups must first be heard, especially the youth who are often victims of gambling addiction.
In a podcast interview, Marcos said he would hold a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss how to deal with the problem. He added that if online gambling is suddenly banned, it could shift to underground operations that would be difficult for the government to control.
Some lawmakers are calling for a total ban on online gambling due to its negative impact on the youth and vulnerable sectors. Bills have been filed to ban all forms of online gambling in the country. Some have even called it a “silent epidemic.”
When asked how this is different from POGOs that were banned last year, Marcos said they are involved in crimes such as human trafficking and credit card scams.
His main goal is to protect young people from gambling addiction and find solutions to the problems it causes. He says the problem is not online gambling itself, but the bad social effects on young people and those addicted to it.
