QUEZON CITY – A congressional hearing on online gambling turned explosive after House Majority Vice Chair Rep. Brian Poe exposed the staggering scale of illegal operations siphoning billions from the Philippines.
Poe revealed that just eight illegal online gambling companies are earning an estimated $50–70 million every month from Filipino users — profits that should have been taxed and used for public services.
“If we were to take these eight companies as an example of online gambling, which is unregulated and currently profiting, based on my sources, they make about $50 million minimum each month, which should be taxed and given back to government,” Poe said.
“If you combine that per annum, we’re looking at basically $1.4 billion, which could be revenue because of the 30% that we’re supposed to be getting. That’s equivalent to ₱82 billion a year, just from these eight companies alone.”
Among the apps identified during the hearing were Poppo Live, Awaz, Vone, BoloUP, Halla Live, Niki (Nikki Live), Ximi Video Live, Gem Gala, Himme (Hime), and HiChat — all flagged as illegal gambling platforms masquerading as livestreaming or entertainment apps.
PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco admitted that while PAGCOR tracks these sites, it has “no power to close illegal sites.”
“What we do is, we collect all these sites every day, and we immediately send the names of these illegal sites to DICT, CICC, NTC, PNP Cybercrime Group, and also to NBI,” Tengco said. “The truth is, when it comes to illegal [platforms], Congressman, there is no process. It is not in PAGCOR.”
Tengco disclosed that PAGCOR receives around 2,000 complaint letters every month, with 60% involving illegal operators. Of the 12,000 illegal sites identified and referred to other agencies, roughly 8,000 have been taken down.
But Poe warned that the problem is worsening:
“These companies continue to operate and target Filipinos. Let’s take, for example, Poppo Live, which continues to operate. What many people don’t know is that it operates under the guise of a normal gaming app on Google Play, but there is a sophisticated network of converting tokens into actual cash.”
Poe stressed that the lack of a clear enforcement process is leaving Filipinos vulnerable while billions slip away:
“We need to strengthen the CMED of PAGCOR, and we need to look into the processes of this cease and desist with the NBI, CICC, and DICT. As it is, many people want to complain. They’re confused about the process. They believe that PAGCOR is the agency tasked with taking all of these sites down.”
To ensure accountability, Poe committed to submitting copies of reports and complaints against these operators to PAGCOR, law enforcement agencies, and the media.
“I will be furnishing copies of these reports back to PAGCOR, as well as to the media, so that they can conduct their own independent study into these operations,” Poe concluded.
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