CICC, GAB to step up efforts vs. illegal online gambling

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) have signed an agreement to strengthen the government’s monitoring efforts against illegal online gambling and sports streaming.

The two agencies agreed to work together in detecting, monitoring, and blocking illegal online gaming operations.

The CICC will be tasked to conduct analytic research, digital surveillance, case build-up, and legal actions, while GAB will coordinate and share information on illegal online gambling operations.

“Ang layunin talaga nito, mapigilan, masugpo, at masawata ang mga online betting platforms na illegal nagbrobroadcast [at] illegal na nagpapataya sa mga sporting events natin. Ang commitment ng CICC sa GAB ay kasama sila sa threat monitoring center natin. Kasama sila sa magmomonitor kung sino man ang magkakaroon ng online illegal platforms na yan,” said CICC Acting Executive Director Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso during a public briefing on Wednesday.

(The aim is to curb, prevent, and dissolve online betting platforms that broadcast illegally [and] hold bets illegally for our sports events. The CICC’s commitment to GAB is that they will be part of our threat monitoring center. They are included in the monitoring of who will be accessing these online illegal platforms.)

“Kasama ang CICC sa pagblo-block [ng mga sites na yan] at di lang pagba-block, kasama diyan yung attribution, prosecution, [at] conviction sa panuntunin po ng GAB,” he added.

(The CICC is included in blocking [these sites], and not just blocking but also attribution, prosecution, [and] conviction according to the guidelines of GAB.)

Earlier, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) also expressed its plans to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool to detect illegal online betting platforms in the country.

Several government officials and bodies have already spoken out against the proliferation of online gambling and betting practices in the country, due to the “havoc” they cause to their patrons. —LDF, GMA Integrated News