Are the Philippines about to follow the U.S and ban online poker?

At the same time that it is rumoured that the United States may be about to relax the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act implemented whilst President Bush was in power and that online poker may be played once more in the U.S., there are reports that the Philippines are considering introducing laws very similar to ban online poker and casinos. The suggestions have been reportedly made by Narciso Santiago of the Alliance for Rural Concerns Party who has raised a bill proposing to make online poker and gambling illegal. A report in the Philippine Daily Enquirer states that Santiago is concerned about the effects of online poker and gambling on the young and addicted and that it is a means for money laundering in the criminal fraternity.

The bill that Santiago proposes has many exemptions including horse racing, internet cafes, any bets placed at an authorised Philippine Charity Sweepstake office etc ., and would appear on the surface to be problematic for the Filipino authorities to implement certainly in the proposed form.

Mr Santiago should of course be applauded regarding his concerns for the affects of gambling on the young, however gambling is a way of life for the majority of Filipino people, common sights are of mothers with babies in arms and toddlers squatting in the street playing street bingo and of course the absolutely disgusting practice of legalized cockfighting that is enjoyed by large parts of the population. The Catholic Church itself - 81% of Filipino’s regard themselves as practicing Catholics - also uses bingo as regular fund raising exercises as does the Government, it would seem therefore that protecting the young should be done far earlier than waiting till they are teenagers. It has also been reported that over 40% of Filipino people live below the International poverty level it therefore remains to be seen if many would have access to the internet or sufficient funds to become involved with online gambling.

There is support for online poker and gambling in the form of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila. Mr Favila was also quoted in the Philippine Daily Enquirer at the end of last year after making a statement to the House of Representatives where he expressed his belief that gambling including online casinos would be good for the economy of the Philippines.