Why Banning Online Gambling Backfires: PH Risks Bigger Black Market, Experts Warn

A leading legal expert warns that recent pushes for legislation prohibiting online gaming will worsen the effects of irresponsible gaming by sending gambling operators underground. Head of trusted technology consulting firm Arden Consult, Atty. Tonet Quiogue, released a 15-page memorandum arguing a simple but powerful sentiment: if the government totally bans online gaming, it forfeits its own ability to control illegal gaming and its excesses. “The real enemy, as any seasoned observer knows, is illegal gambling – operations that bypass all regulations, pay no taxes, and offer no player protections,” argues Quiogue in her memorandum. “If the goal of lawmakers is to eliminate the social ills of gambling, then the logical approach is to surgically strike at these illicit operations, not to outlaw the entire industry and penalize legitimate stakeholders.” Quiogue’s warning comes at the heels of various bills filed by legislators, including the most recent Senate Bill filed by former Senate President Migz Zubiri. Quiogue’s piece, however, takes direct aim at bills filed by Senators Pia and Alan Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, and Sherwin Gatchalian. With respect to the aforementioned bills filed, Quiogue says that the bill’s preambulars and “whereas clauses” paint gambling as an inherently illicit activity, linked directly to fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. However, as Quiogue points out, there is no evidence to support [...]