PH Government Struggles to Shut Down Popular Online Gambling Called ‘Scatter’
The Philippine government has admitted that it is having a hard time stopping a type of online gambling known as “scatter.”
The online game continues to reappear even after being shut down. These illegal gambling sites keep popping up like mushrooms, despite efforts from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to block them.
According to Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro, around 7,000 illegal gambling websites have already been taken down. However, many of them return with different website names, making it difficult to stop them completely.
“Kapag naipasara, mag-iiba na naman ng website at paulit-ulit na nagbabago ng kanilang website. Pero hindi tinutulugan ng gobyerno ang ganitong klaseng problema at patuloy na magtatrabaho upang masawat,” Castro said.
Even so, the DICT and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) are working nonstop to remove these websites. The government is not ignoring the issue and continues to look for ways to stop these gambling platforms from reaching more people.
Castro also reminded public figures and influencers not to promote these gambling sites, especially if they are not licensed. Supporting these platforms can encourage more Filipinos to get involved in gambling, which could lead to serious problems.
Unlike POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), these scatter gambling sites operate illegally. That means the only thing authorities can do is keep taking them down as soon as they reappear.
The DICT said it won’t give up on its efforts to remove these websites again and again. Their goal is to prevent more Filipinos from getting addicted to gambling and to protect the public from its harmful effects.
In a previous report, a teacher struggles after falling into online gambling trap ‘nagtry lang sa scatter’
“Hindi po natin titigilan ito, kahit paulit-ulit silang pumapasok iyong website nila at naa-access ng mga kababayan natin, paulit-ulit din silang tatanggalin,” Castro added.
The government asks the public to stay cautious online and avoid engaging in gambling websites that are not officially approved.