Senate President Francis Escudero said Sunday the government should apply the same accounting used in assessing and outlawing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs).
“What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I would like to see the government practice the same attention to detail in assessing PIGO as it did with POGO,” he said. “An anomaly does not cease to be one because Filipinos are doing it.”
Escudero warned that the rise of online gaming platforms has effectively put “a casino in every Filipino’s pocket” and called for a comprehensive financial and social audit of PIGOs to assess their impact on individuals and the economy.
He urged regulators to conduct a “social cost-state benefit” analysis to determine the potential risks and gains from PIGO operations.
“What we usually see are the gross revenues and net income of gaming and gambling firms. However, the total amount wagered by Filipinos across all platforms should also be disclosed,” he argued.
Escudero expects an inquiry into PIGOs to yield data on their tax contributions, ownership structures, government revenue shares, and potential links to gambling-related crimes.
“Aren’t these apps so addictive that people end up betting even the money meant for their family’s food or their child’s milk?” he asked. “And isn’t it true that those who get desperate from gambling often turn to crime and deception?”
Insider reports suggest online gambling bets could reach between P600 billion and P1 trillion per year, Escudero said. This figure is more than double the gross annual sales of the country’s leading fast-food chains, according to the Senate chief.