On Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed the “Kontra E-Sugal Act.”
In a bid to “safeguard Filipinos from the harmful effects of online gambling,” Senator Risa Hontiveros filed this bill.
Online gambling is betting or playing games over the internet, which comes in many types. There are online casinos, sports betting, Esports betting, poker rooms, lotteries, bingo, and others.
While this setup is convenient, with the potential to win real money, there are certain risks to be considered, such as the risk of addiction, potential for fraud and unregulated sites, cause of financial issues, and concerns of illegalities.
To “safeguard Filipinos from the harmful effects of online gambling,” Senator Risa Hontiveros filed the “Kontra E-Sugal Act.”
In this bill, it defined super app as “a mobile or web application that combines multiple services into a single platform.” These apps accordingly “consolidate various functionalities, including but not limited to messaging, e-commerce, financial services, transportation, delivery, or more.”
After filing the bill, Hontiveros underscored that “phones are not casinos,” and stressed the negative impacts it brings to people just because of how they can easily access these kinds of applications.
“Napakarami sa ating mga kababayan ang nabaon sa patong-patong na utang dahil sa e-sugal na lalong pinadali ng mga e-wallets. Para sa iba, buhay ang naging kapalit, dahil isang pindot lang ang kailangan,” she stated.
In this bill, only those who are 21 years of age or older can have access to the online gambling platforms, and it prohibits the advertising of online gambling in social media, tri-media, and public spaces that encourage people to indulge.
It also directs the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to limit betting and losses on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. If the limit is reached, the gaming account will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days.
The senator stressed that having no limitations led to “unli-sugal” and this eventually causes infinite reasons for unnecessary spending. This addiction causes people to find ways to address their urge by borrowing money, which often results in serious financial problems.
A counterpart bill has been filed in the House of Representatives by Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.
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