Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte recently made a rare public statement on the issue of online gambling while attending the "Free Duterte" rally in The Hague, Netherlands, firmly supporting the complete ban on online gambling, which has attracted strong attention.
During a media interview, Sara explicitly stated that online gambling causes serious harm to society, especially to teenagers. "I oppose any form of online gambling. Parents have no control over their children's internet behavior, which is very dangerous." She warned that online gambling is more addictive and secretive than physical casinos, "As long as you have a mobile phone and internet, there are almost no barriers."
Sara pointed out that online gambling has led many young people astray, with countless cases of family breakdowns and crippling debts. "It not only destroys a person's future but also destroys a family."
Her remarks quickly sparked heated discussions domestically. In fact, many members of the Philippine Congress have long proposed the abolition of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), considering the regulation to be virtually ineffective, and only a complete ban is the solution.
Moreover, the Philippine Department of Health has already listed online gambling as a "public health threat," noting that it can lead to decreased learning abilities, deteriorating interpersonal relationships, and even depression and self-harm.
As the Vice President makes the strongest call against gambling, the industry is closely watching whether the Philippines will soon see a policy shift, anticipating the arrival of this "storm."
