Latest news with #P51
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Online gambling boom sparks calls for ban in Philippines
MANILA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Before helping fellow gamblers quit the roulette wheel or forgo the glory of a royal flush in poker, Filipino Reagan Praferosa fought his own addiction—a passion that almost cost him his life. Enthralled by the "big-shot identity" that came with early casino victories in Las Vegas and later in Manila, Praferosa went on to lose P50 million ($873,515) in seven years. He was jailed for theft to cover the debt, sent to rehabilitation centers and then tried to take his own life. "Gambling is an emotional disease. It only leads to three places: jail, institution or death," said Praferosa, who created a support group in 2011 for Filipinos with a gambling addiction. The group, managed by five people, has helped more than 300 people with online daily meetings. Its members are as young as 13 and as old as 72. Lawmakers and the Catholic Church worry that addiction is soaring, with ever more gamblers drawn to online games, their need accelerated by social-media ads and e-wallet platforms. "The number of callers we received is 10 times more than usual. Before, callers were dominated by men. But now they're dominated by mothers... children as well," said Praferosa. Several lawmakers have filed bills seeking restrictions on online gambling, such as prohibiting the use of e-wallets that enable bigger, faster bets. Others want a total ban. Online gambling has taken off quickly in the Philippines, with government revenues from taxes and fees paid by local operators for the first quarter estimated at P51 billion ($892 million), according to news reports citing data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the government's gaming regulator. It accounted for about half of the government's total gaming revenues so far this year. At least 80 electronic gaming operators have licenses in the Philippines, according to PAGCOR. Gian Samson, a PAGCOR employee, said he backs an outright ban, claiming the human risks far outweigh the economic benefits. "Online gambling must be stopped immediately, and we should determine what is legal or illegal. It's not contributing anything to our society," said Samson, a representative of PAGCOR's employee association. The chairman of PAGCOR, founded in 1977 to regulate gaming and stop illegal casinos, rejects a total ban and instead favors stricter regulation. Growing problem Former President Rodrigo Duterte ushered in online gambling in 2016, opening the door to mostly Chinese-owned firms that catered to customers outside the country. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reversed track and imposed a ban on the outside entities last year, citing a "grave abuse" of laws by the industry. However, domestic digital versions of traditional casino games, such as slot machines, poker and roulette, are still permitted and can be accessed from mobile devices. While online gambling is legal, Samson said regulators have failed to limit the industry or control who can access these games, as is mandated. "They are giving Filipinos easy and convenient access to gambling. In just a tap of a button, you can deplete your life savings," he said. Players can join a game, then withdraw all their earnings through popular e-payment apps that even children can use, he said. DigiPlus Interactive, operator of gaming sites BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, said banning licensed operators would "drive players toward illegal, unregulated sites with no safeguards" as well as hit some 50,000 workers in the sector. "We are open to evolving and improving wherever needed. If there are new standards to meet, or better ways to protect players, we will act swiftly and responsibly," DigiPlus Chair Eusebio Tanco said in a statement. Recovery The church has decried online gambling as a "moral and social crisis" and called for a ban. "It is now a public health crisis in our society, just like drug addiction, alcoholism and other types of addiction. It destroys not only the person but also their families," Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said in a pastoral letter. He said online gambling hurts poor Filipinos who have almost no salary or savings and young people who are already struggling with the cost of education as well as other vulnerable people. In one Facebook recovery group with more than 25,000 members, one user said he tried to stop by installing an online gambling blocking app called Gamban but failed to curb his addiction. Gamban, a software provider based in Britain, can be installed on personal devices to block online gambling sites. Gamban founder Matt Zarb-Cousin said the Philippines is the app's third-highest source of new signups, after Brazil and Britain, reflecting a surge from about 26,000 visitors in 2024 to more than 32,000 in the first half of 2025. "It may be driven by the prevalence of online gambling, legal and illegal," said Zarb-Cousin. He said online casinos are associated with higher rates of addiction than traditional gambling, and about 80% of Gamban users play mostly slots. "Everyone wants to make better lives for themselves, and gambling is something that can completely destroy that in a very short space of time," said the former gambling addict. In countries such as Britain, the Netherlands and Norway, Gamban is free. In the Philippines, it costs $3.49 a month. "There must be responsibilities placed on gambling operators to protect consumers sufficiently. And in my ideal world, there wouldn't be as many people needing Gamban," he said. "Regulation, if done properly, can prevent or at the very least curtail online gambling significantly." — Reuters
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
No winners of major lotto jackpot draws on Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said there were no winners of the major lotto jackpot draws on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The winning numbers for the Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot worth P51,481,844.00 are 03-45-05-18-21-28. For Megalotto 6/45, the correct combination of 29-15-44-05-08-31, would have given a jackpot of P21,125,006.60. For more lotto results, visit here. — RF, GMA Integrated News
Buzz Feed
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
27 Of The Nicest Celebrities According To Pilots
Recently, I came across a pilot's forum and a thread on it asking about the nicest celebrities pilots have flown. Some of these make a ton of sense (looking at you, Julie Andrews), but some were a delightful surprise. "Anthony Hopkins. Flew him back from LA. A delight and absolute gentleman." — olster "Gordon Ramsay, recently. Utterly lovely and charming, 'Please call me Gordon.' Just wanted a bottle of water and slept for the entire flight." — galanjal "Celine Dion, when I was flying private. Completely lovely – even offered to take us to dinner, but we had to return to base." — toratoratora "Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks. He was hilarious, but she was really quiet, almost shy!" — Extrolleydolly "The only one that really impressed me and should impress every pilot here was Sen. John Glenn. He came up after a very rough flight. We were the last plane into KCLT as the others started going around after us. He shook both of our hands, and he was flying coach." — skyhighfallguy "Forest Whitaker. Super nice guy! He signed my passenger manifest." — nick_m_007 "Robert De Niro. Very pleasant, funny, and friendly. He was wearing a wig as a disguise." — HEMS driver "Tom Cruise. Splendid fellow. Asked politely if he might come to the flight deck before departure, whereupon he asked some questions and we chatted about his new P51. Obviously, he stayed on with Cameron Diaz for some photos. Salzburg to Seville for the filming of Knight and Day." — blue up "Denzel Washington. Very friendly and chatty. We had a good chin wag in the galley." — Tray Surfer "Amy Winehouse. Met her a couple of times. The last time she got off, and was lovely (obviously had been at the cooking sherry), and wanted to know how my day was, and what I was doing after work." — EKA380LHR "Prince William, a few years ago. Absolutely delightful, very down-to-earth." — bunnygirl "Sade. Lovely, charming woman. Had time to chat with the crew and gave tickets to all of us on the flight, including backstage passes, plus meet and greet photos. She even invited the flight deck (us) to her concert and made sure her assistants looked after our tickets." — NG_Kaptain "Michael Caine. Such a LOVELY man! Flew him to Venice for the film festival, and he came into the galley and had a chat with us and was just so lovely." — jumpseatR4 "Julie Andrews. Wonderful, warm, and friendly." — vctenderness "Zac Efron. Engaging, personable, and signed an autograph. Those eyes do glimmer so much more in real life. True gentleman!" — mjo84 "Gerard Butler. Had the pleasure of meeting him on a Virgin Atlantic flight to LAX last month. What a nice man. He was very friendly and chatty. A real pleasure to talk with." — Lucky747 "Grace Jones. I met her in the Senator Lounge at FRA. She asked me if I knew how to use the massage chairs, as I was just about to get on one. I didn't realize who she was until I heard the lady with her address her as 'Grace', then the penny dropped. I offered her the first use of the massager, and she declined. She is charm personified, very dignified and quiet. She must have been in her mid-fifties then; she looked about 40." — Capetonian "Eric Clapton. A legend and a hell of a nice guy. He gave the entire crew comps for them and their family to his concert." — joeflyguy "Kelly Rowland. Was lovely. She slept for a lot of the flight as she had flown in from LAX, and we were taking her on to her final destination, but she happily posed for pictures with the crew. Very down-to-earth and stunningly beautiful." — glider12000 "Tina Turner. LHR–LAX in first class. She sat on the floor for several hours playing with a baby also traveling in first class. Charming and entirely without airs and graces." — Flightwatch "Olivia Newton-John. I have taken her between LAX–SYD a couple of times. So pleasant, friendly, and polite." — Grove "Michael Douglas. A true 'A' lister. Absolutely charming, shook everybody's hand, and thanked us after the flight." — bunkrest "Sean Connery. Top bloke. Sat in the cockpit for nearly the whole flight and chatted about anything from politics to football. Really nice." — Abusing_the_sky "Kate Hudson. Quiet, initiated conversation, showed a genuine interest in our lives, and felt more like a good friend than a passenger. She was even joking/teasing me about a very attractive bloke behind the curtain in economy." — ozangel "Jack Johnson was onboard one of my short sectors between Sydney and the Gold Coast. He was a very pleasant guy, smooth voice, beautiful tanned skin, and also had his wife/girlfriend with him as well as his cute little son." — TeamJQboy "I met Ricky Martin in our training centre. He was there to do some filming in a flight simulator for a TV show. He was lovely, posed for photos, and was very chatty. Shame I got really nervous and could not think of a single thing to say to him." — ezpz Finally, "Robin Williams. The most down-to-earth, sweetest guy. No entourage for him, boards quietly and low-profiles it. Very funny and will laugh at your own jokes." — Dea Certe
