Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is calling for more stringent legislative measures to combat the growing issue of illegal online gambling, which is increasingly drawing Filipinos into gambling addiction.
In a news release on Tuesday, Gatchalian described the proliferation of unlicensed betting sites as relentless, describing them as “mushrooms—when you block them today, they reappear tomorrow. It’s never-ending; we must cut the root of the problem” the Philippine New Agency reported.
During a recent Senate hearing, the senator inquired about the efforts of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) to tackle illegal gambling websites. The CICC reported blocking roughly 50,000 online gambling sites, with 95 to 97 percent operating from outside the Philippines.
However, the center noted that it can only block access within the country, presenting a significant enforcement challenge for cross-border operations.
In response to Gatchalian’s legislative initiatives, CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso suggested the appointment of cyber diplomats to enhance international cybersecurity cooperation, as the Philippines has yet to designate such officials.
He also recommended expanding mutual legal assistance treaties to include cybercrimes, as current agreements are limited to traditional offenses.
Last year, Gatchalian proposed the Online Gambling Regulatory Act, aimed at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling, as opposed to an outright ban that could drive operations underground.
