Manila, Feb 18: Sherwin Gatchalian has called for stronger and more coordinated international action against illegal offshore gambling websites targeting Filipino players, saying that simply blocking access to such platforms is not enough.
The senator renewed his push against illegal online gaming even as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) reported that it had blocked 50,000 online gaming sites, 95 to 97 per cent of which are based outside the country.
Gatchalian compared illegal gambling platforms to something that “keeps reappearing no matter how often they are removed,” stressing that enforcement efforts will never be complete if authorities focus “only on blocking at the user end.” He said the government must address the underlying source of these operations to achieve lasting results.
CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso said the Philippines is the only country without cyber diplomats, describing this as a gap in the country’s ability to combat online threats originating abroad. He proposed appointing cyber diplomats to strengthen international cooperation and also called for expanding mutual legal assistance treaties to cover cybercrime, noting that existing treaties largely focus on traditional offences.
The issue comes amid ongoing Senate hearings into the domestic online gaming, or eGames, sector, in which Gatchalian has played a central role.
While a complete ban on online gaming was earlier considered, the senator has since expressed support for a regulatory framework instead of prohibition, warning that a total ban could push gaming activities underground and make them more difficult to monitor.
Data released by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) underlined the scale of the sector, with more than half of the Php 53.3 billion (approximately USD 904 million) in total gaming revenue in 2025 coming from electronic gaming activities, including eGames, eBingo and bingo grantees.
The figures highlight the growing importance of the online segment to the country’s gaming industry, as policymakers seek to balance economic gains from regulated platforms with tighter action against illegal offshore operators.
Gatchalian’s message, however, remains clear: simply blocking illegal gambling sites is not enough, and the Philippines must strengthen global cooperation rather than remain “always trying to catch up.”
