Philippine Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, Erwin Tulfo, has strongly urged that fintech companies and social platforms immediately remove all links related to online gambling, without waiting for new legislation to be passively enforced. He stated that online gambling has caused serious harm to society and needs urgent rectification.
"When your platform is harming people, you have a responsibility to stop!" Tulfo specifically criticized e-wallet service providers such as GCash and PayMaya, as well as social media platforms like Facebook, demanding that they take corporate social responsibility.
He pointed out that advertisements for online gambling have penetrated various platforms, attracting a large number of people, especially those from impoverished communities, leading them into financial difficulties and even family breakdowns. "Previously, it was heard that 4Ps subsidies were used for small-time gambling, now there's even more concern that this money is going directly into online gambling accounts."
Tulfo revealed that representatives from GCash, PayMaya, and social platforms will be formally summoned to attend the upcoming Senate hearing. The meeting will debate whether to completely ban online gambling, with representatives from multiple government agencies and industries also participating.
The newly appointed senator firmly stated his support for a total ban on online gambling. He believes that the social costs of family tragedies, debt crises, and even self-harm induced by online gambling far outweigh the government's tax revenue.
"This is not just a matter of common sense, but also a moral issue. We cannot stand by and watch online gambling continue to destroy Filipino families," Tulfo said seriously.
Recently, Philippine authorities have been intensifying efforts to regulate online gambling, and this hearing could be a critical juncture in pushing for a comprehensive cleanup of the industry.
