Banning gambling ads “is a lose-lose game”

In a keynote address during the recently held SiGMA Asia Summit in the Philippines, Keith Marshall, Chief Philanthropy Officer and co-founder of the , delivered an impassioned plea to move from privilege to purpose. Marshall shared his story as a pharmacist, with his critical moment being when he finally realised that life's greatest injustice is ignorance and poverty while in Ethiopia.

In his speech, Marshall emphasised the power of individual action to create meaningful change.  He narrated his first encounter with the cruel living conditions of Ethiopian kids, which made him re-think his life direction. "I was blown away by the injustices and the crazy conditions that these kids were living within," Marshall said, adding, "I was stuck at a crossroads. I could either wash away the situation and say, listen, it's a problem, but it's not my problem. Or else I could say, listen, I'm not going to change the world, but I can be involved in change."

Choosing the latter, Marshall shifted his focus, integrating philanthropy into his life without abandoning his other pursuits. He said, "You can comfortably juggle in life." This balance helped him to continue running his pharmaceutical company, but at the same time, he had the time and resources to help the underprivileged of Ethiopia. From the work of the SiGMA Foundation, the idea has ballooned from helping children in Ethiopia to more than 100,000 children in seven countries on four continents.

Marshall noted everyone's purpose for being alive, urging everyone to ensure that no matter how small it is, there is always something they can do to. "Everyone can do something for someone," he went on to say, stressing that everybody matters in the end. Marshall also elaborated on the coexistence of the two different dimensions of life by sharing the professional and personal commitments which cannot stay apart from philanthropic works. "It's how much time you want to dedicate to kindred spirit—that is, to philanthropy. It could be stretching a metre, a mile, dedicating a week, dedicating a month, or dedicating an hour a day. But it all counts," he said.

He concluded by calling for action, as Marshall noted that there is much need for support; 380 million children all over the globe are suffering, and all these are because of failing social systems. He asked everyone in the room to take up the possibility of making a difference and to be the change agent within their community for that change. Marshall invited the audience at the summit to "make it count" by using their privileged positions for good. Recent SiGMA Foundation projects, such as the last week of a Music hall in Bataan have set an example for others to convert their privilege into purpose in practice.

Looking ahead, the gaming industry will shift its focus to Eastern Europe this September with the in Budapest. This event is expected to attract industry professionals from across the region, providing a platform for networking, business development, and exploring the latest trends in the gaming sector.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has imposed a fine of AUD370,417 (€227,769) on after the company pleaded guilty to 43 charges related to underage gambling and inadequate supervision of its Electronic Betting Terminals. The charges were brought by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) following an investigation into incidents involving a 17-year-old gambling at multiple venues across Victoria. 

In May 2023, the VGCCC charged after it was discovered that a minor had gambled on numerous occasions between May 2022 and October 2023. The venues involved included Albion Charles Hotel, Brunswick Club, Coburg TAB Agency, Cramers Hotel, Doncaster Hotel, Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Edwardes Lake Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, Northcote TAB Agency, Olympic Hotel, Parkview Hotel, Preston Hotel, and Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel. 

Annette Kimmitt AM, CEO of the VGCCC, emphasised the gravity of Tabcorp’s breaches. “The breaches committed by Tabcorp are incredibly serious, reflecting a fundamental failure to protect minors from the risks associated with gambling, as well as a lack of vigilance on their part,” she stated. Kimmitt underscored the importance of gambling providers and their staff in preventing underage gambling. 

“These failures undermine the integrity and safety of the industry. Gambling providers and their staff are on the frontline of our efforts to prevent underage gambling,” Kimmitt continued. “It is their duty to rigorously check IDs and supervise gambling activities to ensure minors are not able to access these services. Their vigilance is crucial in safeguarding young people from the harms of gambling.” 

Kimmitt stressed the VGCCC’s commitment to protecting the community and ensuring the gambling industry adheres to the highest standards of conduct. “It is imperative that all stakeholders in the gambling industry understand the gravity of this issue and take their responsibilities seriously to prevent such harm,” she said.  

“The VGCCC is committed to protecting the community and ensuring that all gambling operations adhere to the highest standards of conduct. We will continue to take decisive action in upholding the safety and wellbeing of our community, particularly when it comes to children,” she said. 

The hefty fine serves as a stern reminder to gambling providers about their critical role in preventing underage gambling and maintaining the industry's integrity. 

Find out more about the latest updates and trends in the industry, from latest regulatory news to most recent innovations at the upcoming  Summit happening in Budapest from 2 – 4 September.

Indonesia's Communications and Information Minister, Budi Arie Setiadi, has raised concerns about money laundering activities connected to online gambling. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) identified these suspicious activities in the first quarter of the year.  

According to local media reports, the discussed the issue during a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees communications, defence, intelligence, and foreign affairs. He indicated that money obtained from gambling winnings is being laundered but refrained from providing specific details about the cases.  

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Hadi Tjahjanto previously disclosed that online gambling activities from January to March amounted to a transactional value of Rp100 trillion (€5.7 billion). This figure represents a significant portion of the total Rp327 trillion (€18.5 billion) in online gambling transactions recorded for the entire year of 2023.  

Commission I member Nurul Arifin from the Golkar Party highlighted the substantial economic losses due to online gambling and questioned the effectiveness of the ministry’s measures to combat it. She referenced the ministry's claim of blocking 800,000 online gambling sites last year and expressed scepticism about the success of these efforts given the high transactional values.  

In response, Setiadi reiterated the ministry's dedication to , emphasising the detrimental impact on family finances and national well-being. He noted that the financial losses incurred by Indonesians benefit other countries, underscoring the importance of tackling this issue.  

Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has established a special interministerial task force to address the proliferation of online gambling. This task force, led by senior minister Hadi Tjahjanto, includes Setiadi overseeing prevention efforts and National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo handling enforcement.  

In Indonesia, all forms of gambling are illegal, with severe penalties for participants and organizers. Under Article 303 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), those involved in gambling activities face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to Rp25 million (€1,418). Additionally, distributors of online gambling software could be sentenced to six years in prison and fined up to Rp1 billion (€56,730) under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.  

Find out more about the latest updates and trends in the industry, from latest regulatory news to most recent innovations at the upcoming  Summit happening in Budapest from 2 – 4 September.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) expressed concerns over the potential consequences of banning (IGLs), formerly known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). In a statement, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco highlighted the risks associated with such a ban, suggesting that it could drive legitimate operators underground.  

"If this happens, it will become harder for us to monitor them, and the number of illegal operators would grow and pose a bigger headache to our law enforcement authorities," Tengco said.  

emphasised that the government stands to lose substantial revenue if IGLs are banned. The estimated loss could exceed PHP20 billion (€315 million) annually. This financial blow would come with no guarantee that illegal activities would cease.  

“On top of these, the government will lose potential revenues of more than PHP20 billion (€315 million) annually, without any guarantee that illegal activities will stop,” he explained.  

Tengco further warned that legitimate operators are unlikely to cease operations entirely if banned. Instead, they might simply hide their activities, taking their gaming equipment underground and continuing to operate without government oversight.  

“We have no guarantee that, once we ban the legitimate operators, they will simply close shop and return to their countries of origin where they are likely to face prosecution and jail, or worse,” he noted. “So, they will just go underground here in the Philippines and continue operating.”  

The PAGCOR chief also highlighted the increased risk of operators engaging in more harmful illegal activities if forced underground.  

“Worse, they could join those who are engaged in illegal activities like scamming, hacking, and other cybercrimes, which would cause bigger problems to us,” Tengco stated. “Once they are underground, we lose control over them.”  

Despite these concerns, Tengco expressed PAGCOR's commitment to abide by the decisions made by Congress. He stressed the importance of intensified law enforcement and collaboration among all sectors to address the underlying issues of criminality associated with IGLs.  

“It is the prerogative of our lawmakers to outlaw IGLs if they believe it will solve our problems,” Tengco said. “However, for us, the real problem is the criminal syndicates masquerading as POGOs. It is only through intensified law enforcement and the cooperation of all sectors that we would be able to address the problem of criminality.”  

In an earlier statement, PAGCOR that alien crime syndicates are security threats and not IGLs. Earlier this week, several Philippine senators renewed their call to ban offshore gaming operators in the country citing crimes linked to their operations.   

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the government to needs acknowledge the significant problems associated with offshore gaming operators and to swiftly implement a ban on their operations.  The call for a ban was echoed by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Win Gatchalian. 

Meanwhile, state media Philippine News Agency reported that Albay Representative Joey Salceda, Chairperson of the Philippines House Ways and Means Committee, lauded the PAGCOR for generating PHP5.1 billion (€80.32 million) in revenue from IGLs in 2023. 

Salceda said that PAGCOR's strategy focused on enforcing regulations and eliminating "bad and mediocre" licensees, rather than dismantling the entire industry. He noted a significant reduction in the number of Chinese workers employed by offshore gaming operators, from a peak of 200,000 to the current 8,500 direct Chinese hires. Meanwhile, Filipinos now make up 25,000 of the 100,000 total direct or indirect hires. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA East Europe 2024, 2 – 4 September. Find all the details .