Philippine Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva expressed serious concerns about the rapid spread of online gambling on August 8, warning that government employees are highly susceptible to digital gambling addiction and calling for improved systems to enhance protection.
Villanueva urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to revise and strengthen relevant policies to prevent civil servants from being eroded by the temptations of readily accessible online gambling. He pointed out that as physical casinos gradually shift online, regulatory measures must also be upgraded.
"Now, online gambling is just a few clicks away, and can even be accessed during work hours. Civil servants are highly prone to falling into the trap of gambling addiction, and we cannot sit idly by," he emphasized.
Current regulations prohibit public officials from entering physical casinos, but Villanueva advocates extending the ban to online gambling platforms, specifically targeting online gambling operators in the Philippines.
He strongly urged the CSC to "issue strict regulations as soon as possible to completely prohibit government officials from participating in online gambling," to prevent addiction-induced corruption and a decline in public sector efficiency.
"Gambling addiction not only harms the physical and mental health of employees but also undermines professional ethics. The government must set an example and build a defense line for civil servants to resist this invisible risk," he said.
With the prevalence of online gambling, internet gambling addiction has become a major concern that urgently needs to be addressed in the Philippine public service system, and related regulatory and preventive measures are imperative.
