Pagcor sets gaming education drive
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is introducing an “education framework” for gamblers and gaming operators to counter technology-driven risks that are letting illegal operators flourish and squeezing legitimate businesses.
The initiative, according to Pagcor vice president for human resources and development Angelito Domingo, focuses on three areas: player education, operator training and public outreach.
It comes as unlicensed platforms exploit technology to skirt oversight, with the rapid rise of mobile gaming fueling demand across the country and causing addiction that can lead to financial ruin of many Filipinos.
“There are three forces—technology as the tool, the criminal divide as the motive, and social impact as the public outcry—that create a perfect storm which threatens the integrity of the legal gaming industry,” Domingo said at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Forum last Sept. 11.
Pagcor said the framework envisions stronger coordination among financial and gaming regulators, licensed operators, law enforcement, nongovernment organizations and local communities.
Licensed operators
The move underscores mounting pressure on the Philippines’ regulated gaming sector, which is fending off both offshore rivals in countries like Thailand and underground operators.
More than 70 licensed online gaming platforms currently operate in the country, including BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and OKBet. But calls to outlaw online gambling have grown louder in recent weeks, amid reports of Filipinos falling into financial ruin. Pagcor last month said it had been enforcing a moratorium on new licenses for online gaming sites for over a year now.
Domingo said player education should center on responsible play and awareness of gambling’s financial and psychological risks, while operator training should involve mandatory certification to ensure that front-line staff can identify and respond to signs of addiction.
“A lot of people are not aware of the financial implications when they engage in gambling. They only realize the impact of what they did when it’s already too late,” he said.
“They could have done better by being educated at the onset,” he added.
