Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said they are currently studying the imposition of stricter rules as part of the government’s move to further regulate online gambling.
In a recent informal press chat, Recto said one of the options include imposing higher taxes.
“There are many ways of doing it. One is we leave it to PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation). Because PAGCOR, on its own, can increase the fees and charges it collects from online gaming,” he said.
Recto said PAGCOR currently imposes a 30-percent fee on electronic gaming while the Bureau of Internal Revenue collects an additional 5 percent.
“The total is about 38 percent of the gross gaming revenue is actually taxed. We may increase that even further. That’s one. We’re studying what that increase should be. That’s one, but we need more regulation,” he added.
Recto said increasing taxes by around 10 percent, based on gross gaming revenue, would allow the government to collect an additional P20 billion per year.
He said one of the proposals also include banning government officials from participating in online gambling, displaying warnings about the risks of gambling, and using the national ID to make sure that those 21 years old and below will not be able to access online gaming sites.
“There should probably also be a warning that gambling is habit-forming, similar to cigarette labels. I think we need to have a system in place, and part of the regulation should include something like that,” Recto said.
“Maybe we can use the national ID, as I’ve suggested before, so that a person’s age can be verified. If you’re below 21, you shouldn’t be allowed to play online games.”
Recto said the government may also mandate the listing of online gaming operators for more transparency.
“That’s a possibility. We can force them to list para alam natin (so we will know) who are the people behind it. It becomes more transparent. That’s a possibility,” he said.*PNA
