The Philippines moves towards suppressing online gambling

The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has affirmed his intent to suppress online gambling.

“Pero ‘yung online-online bingo (But the online bingo), it will be suppressed, no gambling,” he said recently during an award ceremony.

He labelled gambling as a magnet for many crimes, including kidnap-for-ransom and extortion.

 “Because gambling, look at Okada, all the kidnappers, extortionists, scalawag policemen, they kidnap right there in the hotel room. They call the family. ‘You don’t want to pay?’ Then they will kill them.” said Duterte.

The day after, Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo clarified that Duterte likely meant he would crack down only on “illegal” online gambling firms.

“As far as I know, that refers only to illegal online gambling,” said Panelo.

However, in the same Wednesday speech, Duterte said he had no problem ignoring contracts with casinos and companies behind gambling establishments.

“Kaya ‘yang casino (So those casinos), they are still at it. Kaya may franchise lang siya na sabi (Because they have a franchise and they said) it’s a contract. To hell with the contract, I told you I do not want gambling, period,” said Duterte.

Source: Rappler