Philstar.com
August 18, 2025 | 10:34am
MANILA, Philippines — An affiliation of licensed on-line playing operators on Monday lauded the current Senate listening to on on-line playing, saying the proceedings have appropriately recognized the basis reason for widespread social harms — unlawful, unlicensed gaming platforms.
In an announcement launched Monday, the PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines, mentioned the problems highlighted through the listening to — together with underage entry, uncontrolled betting, and monetary misery — are straight linked to unregulated operators that exist exterior the authorized framework.
“We commend the Senate for surfacing the central fact in its listening to: the harms highlighted…stem from unlawful, unlicensed platforms, not from PAGCOR-licensed operators,” the group’s assertion learn.
The group highlighted the stark distinction between their operations and people of unlawful websites.
Licensed operators, the group mentioned, are topic to rigorous oversight from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Company (PAGCOR), which incorporates audits, sanctions, and strict adherence to regulatory requirements. These requirements mandate sturdy Know-Your-Consumer (KYC) and age verification protocols, in addition to accountable gaming mechanisms designed to guard gamers.
“The place regulation exists, safety exists; the place illegality thrives, safety vanishes,” PlaySafe Alliance added.
The assertion additionally addressed the continuing dialogue concerning the delinking of licensed operators from on-line cost platforms. The alliance expressed its assist for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) objectives of shopper safety and monetary integrity, however cautioned towards measures that would inadvertently drive gamers towards the unregulated market.
“Delinking licensed operators from on-line cost platforms wouldn’t cease playing,” the assertion warned. “It dangers pushing gamers into the darkish corners of the web the place exercise is untraceable, taxes disappear, and hurt is tougher to detect.”
PlaySafe Alliance claims that the best method to defend customers and uphold monetary integrity is to maintain all lawful gaming exercise throughout the “regulatory perimeter”, using traceable and supervised cost rails. This method permits for larger oversight and makes it simpler for authorities to detect and counter illicit actions.
The group claims to signify a united entrance of licensed on-line playing operators devoted to selling accountable gaming, making certain regulatory compliance, and defending Filipino gamers. It mentioned it’s dedicated to working with the federal government and different stakeholders to create a protected and sustainable on-line gaming atmosphere that contributes positively to the nation.
