A campaign group is calling for coordinated action.
The Philippines.- Voltaire Tolentino, founder of the group Fight Against Illegal and Rigged Games (F.A.I.R. Games), is calling for stronger support from local government units (LGUs) to combat illegal gambling in Pangasinan. He warns that police efforts alone are not enough.
Tolentino says illegal betting activities such as colour games, “drop ball” and others continue to operate openly and often resume shortly after enforcement actions. “Police operations leading to some arrests are not enough without the full backing of the government,” he said.
Tolentino also emphasised the need to clearly distinguish between legal and illegal gambling, pointing to government-authorised systems such as the Small Town Lottery (STL) as regulated alternatives.
The STL, operated under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), was introduced to curb illegal numbers games like jueteng while generating funds for public programmes. However, Tolentino says illegal operators run a “parallel gambling economy” that undermines its purpose.
He added that similar illegal activities have been reported in nearby provinces, with some networks allegedly linked to Pangasinan.
A campaign group is calling for coordinated action. The Philippines.- Voltaire Tolentino, founder of the group Fight Against Illegal and Rigged Games (F.A.I.R. Games), is calling for stronger support from local government units (LGUs) to combat illegal gambling in Pangasinan. He warns that police efforts alone are not enough. Tolentino says illegal betting activities such…
