AUTHORITIES have blocked at least 50,000 illegal online gambling websites, but the number continues to rise as new platforms quickly emerge to replace those taken down, according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC).
During a recent Senate hearing, the CICC disclosed that it has been blocking an average of 50,000 online gambling sites, with 95 to 97 percent of them operating from outside the Philippines. Because most of these platforms are hosted overseas, authorities can only restrict local access, not permanently shut them down, underscoring the enforcement limits posed by cross-border cybercrime.
On Monday, Feb. 16, Sen. Win Gatchalian called for stronger legislative action, saying that simply blocking the problem is insufficient.
“These are like mushrooms; even if they are blocked today, they will be there tomorrow. It’s never-ending. The root needs to be cut. Have you gone further than blocking?” Gatchalian asked CICC officials.
CICC officials acknowledged that once a site is blocked within Philippine jurisdiction, operators can easily resurface under a different domain name or server location.
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The global nature of internet infrastructure allows illegal operators to stay one step ahead of regulators.
The rise of digital payment platforms, aggressive social media promotions, and 24/7 mobile accessibility have further fueled the spread of unlicensed betting sites, drawing millions of Filipinos into online gambling and raising concerns about addiction and financial harm.
In response to the senator’s challenge, CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso proposed appointing “cyber diplomats” to strengthen international cybersecurity cooperation.
He noted that the Philippines is the only country without designated officials tasked specifically with handling cyber diplomacy.
Paraiso also recommended expanding existing Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) to include cybercrimes.
Present agreements, he explained, mainly cover traditional criminal offenses and are not fully designed to address the technical and jurisdictional complexities of online offenses such as illegal gambling.
Regulation vs total ban
Rather than advocating for a blanket prohibition, Gatchalian has pushed for tighter regulation. Last year, he filed the proposed Online Gambling Regulatory Act, which seeks to establish a stricter framework for licensing, monitoring, and penalizing online gambling operators.
The senator argued that a total ban could drive operations deeper underground, making them even harder to track and control.
As illegal online gambling platforms continue to proliferate despite mass blocking efforts, lawmakers are now weighing stronger regulatory tools and international cooperation measures to confront what Gatchalian described as a “never-ending” digital threat.
