The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) recently disclosed that it has identified 276 illegal gambling websites, some of which are associated with offshore gaming operations (POGO). However, as of now, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has only blocked 136 of these sites, raising questions about enforcement efficiency among senators.
Raul Vicerra, the retired brigadier general and senior vice president in charge of security and monitoring at Pagcor, revealed this situation during the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing on February 13. He stated, "By early 2025, we have identified 276 illegal sites, including e-sabong, online casinos, etc., some of which are related to offshore gaming."
He added, "These illegal sites have been handed over to the National Telecommunications Commission, but so far, only 136 have been successfully blocked."
Facing this situation, Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed dissatisfaction, directly questioning the slow pace of the blocking action. He asked, "Why not block all at once? What is the reason for this delay?"
In response, Vicerra explained that some network service providers have not fully complied with the NTC's blocking orders, allowing some illegal gambling sites to continue operating. He also revealed that Pagcor has received more than 20 complaints about the continuous operation of offshore gambling sites, which have been forwarded to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
When Tulfo inquired whether these complaints were true, Vicerra responded, "Some of these cases are true, and we are further verifying them."
Currently, the Philippine government is intensifying its regulation of illegal gambling activities, but the difficulty of enforcement and execution power still pose challenges. The Senate has requested that Pagcor and the NTC take more effective measures to thoroughly combat the operation of illegal gambling sites.
