Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) has named Mervin Kei Oliveros as its first citizen journalist, focusing on the growing debate surrounding online gambling regulation in the Philippines.
The discussion follows two key proposals in Congress seeking to address online gambling addiction and consumer protection. Senator Win Gatchalian’s Online Gambling Regulation Act proposes a ₱10,000 minimum cash-in, restrictions on e-wallet deposits, and a 10 percent operator tax to fund rehabilitation programs.
Meanwhile, Akbayan’s Kontra e-Sugal Act, authored by Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismula, pushes for a national self-exclusion registry, loss limits, and a ban on celebrity endorsements in gambling ads.
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However, Mervin Oliveros, who spent 13 years in the online casino industry, argued that both proposals still fall short of real protection for players. As a former compliance and KYC manager, Oliveros emphasized that his experience revealed deeper systemic issues that require more than deposit caps and ad bans.
“In short, Akbayan’s bill strengthens consumer tools, Gatchalian’s tightens payment and ad rules, but a complete solution still needs universal cool-off windows, design-speed limits, credit limits, and—above all—an authority that doesn’t earn from the games it polices,” Oliveros said. “Merge those pieces and you get the seven-layer safety net proven to work abroad.”
Oliveros also called for the establishment of an independent regulator separate from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to remove conflicts of interest and ensure accountability.
“I’m not pro-gambling; I’m pro-accountability—and pro-choice,” he added. “I’ve seen what a 2 a.m. spiral looks like: the room quiet, the screen loud, the promise of ‘one more spin’ so you can face your family in the morning. That’s not entertainment anymore. That’s a trap with a soundtrack.”
