Politicians behind the development of gambling platform

[Wiwo]

A politician in the Philippines claimed to have had a hand in the development of the very controversial e-sabong platform he operated e-sabong so he can make a lot of money so he can use for the campaign, and his family to win local elections because the election in the Philippines is very costly many candidates are buying votes to secure their win, there were reports that he murdered their family's opponent because of e-sabong.
Do you think that government should have a rule or a law for election candidates not to have a franchise in any form of gambling, in fact, there are a lot of politicians who are operators of illegal small-town lotteries this is to accumulate funds they can use for election campaigns.

Congressman confirms past stint with e-sabong when it was not yet banned by gov’t

When there is a high rate of poverty among the public/citizens or becomes hard for them to have a choice to make in whgovernsrn the affairs of the state,  and even though the power to elect a new leader is left to the citizens to vote in the leader,  high rate of corruption will not allow for true and fair elections.

And since most of the politicians are ready to spend a lot of money just to buy the votes from the improvised voters it then becomes easy for the politicians with the big bag holders to always win the elections and this has become a normal practice all over the world.

And back to whether the politicians own the gambling site/business, there is no gain in saying that we don't know the many escapism that has been played on several occasions that point to this fact also unless for the few of other casinos whose owners may be out of government to do such things.

[Gyfts]

IMO, a politician or who has a strategic position in a government. strictly prohibited, engaging in a business engaged in the casino industry. plus, the state must make a law that prohibits that casino owners must be outside the government. or the state itself manages, but not for personal owners. this aims to prevent money laundering, illegal campaign funds for elections, or all kinds that are contrary to state affairs.

Article states this was some sort of online "cockfighting" betting platform, and that it was a business entity before the politician got into office.

If that's the case, I don't see the conflict of interest. Are we effectively barring politicians from owning private enterprises before entering office? Let the voters decide whether a politician is to be disqualified from public officer because they own a gambling business.

If what you say is true, I don't want to assume too far. however, it is clearly implied, that businesses run by politicians in your country are not running well. I mean, there's probably a lot of irregularities going on. anyway, besides money laundering, it could also be tax evasion. I'm just assuming, don't mean to accuse. Moreover, as you said, the casino business in your country is a family business. things like this, very vulnerable to something that smells illegal. yes, as OP told in this thread.

If you look to any country, there's a large portion of politicians operating large scale businesses. It isn't a conspiracy. Running for office doesn't pay well, and it costs money. That money either comes from donors or out of pocket.

This entire story seems blown out of proportion.

[Negotiation]

A politician never thrives on a gambling platform. They are able to achieve their own interests everywhere through corruption. Politicians should not come to gambling platforms as they see everything through the eyes of politics, they will cause harm to common gamblers. Because the purpose of current politics is not public service, but the main purpose is how to grow by depriving the people. The corruption of politicians concerned businessmen creates lack of coordination among the organizations and the organizations will not do anything against the will of the government or administration.

[wxa7115]

It should be that no politician should get involved with gambling be it as a gambler or as an operator or businessman that focuses on it. That goes against the rule of law that they're lawmakers and they can make laws favoring their business which is all about gambling that can give them even incentives instead of punishments. This should go with their principles and while there's really a big tax that comes from the gambling industry, let it be alone managed by those that have no political interest.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I disagree, if gambling is legal at a country then any person regardless of their political affiliation should be able to establish a casino if that is what they want to do.

Free enterprise is one of the cornerstones of our modern age, there were many eras and civilizations in which this was not possible, and if you were born into a particular social class then you could not hope to perform any occupation other than that one regardless of your preferences or your talents, something which slowed down our progress, so if a politician wants to open a casino then I do not see anything wrong with it.

[Outhue]

A politician never thrives on a gambling platform. They are able to achieve their own interests everywhere through corruption. Politicians should not come to gambling platforms as they see everything through the eyes of politics, they will cause harm to common gamblers. Because the purpose of current politics is not public service, but the main purpose is how to grow by depriving the people. The corruption of politicians concerned businessmen creates a lack of coordination among the organizations and the organizations will not do anything against the will of the government or administration.

What are you talking about? Politicians are corrupt but they use the money they steal to build other businesses and trust me casino is one of those business, since they are in the government already it will be easier for them to set up few numbers if casinos around different states in the country, you need to do more research, there are some Thailand politicians that open gamblings den and they are not clean, I believe that no politicians are completely clean from corruption.

[Fortify]

A politician in the Philippines claimed to have had a hand in the development of the very controversial e-sabong platform he operated e-sabong so he can make a lot of money so he can use for the campaign, and his family to win local elections because the election in the Philippines is very costly many candidates are buying votes to secure their win, there were reports that he murdered their family's opponent because of e-sabong.
Do you think that government should have a rule or a law for election candidates not to have a franchise in any form of gambling, in fact, there are a lot of politicians who are operators of illegal small-town lotteries this is to accumulate funds they can use for election campaigns.

The trouble with politicians getting involved in such companies is huge because gambling sites make huge money with a lot coming in and little going back out again. Politicians should be banned from any connections with certain industries because they can have a large influence on laws designed to regulate them. They can also direct pressure against competitors and make it an unfair environment, maybe directing some sort of police harassment. It's a recipe for disaster really and becomes a dangerous cycle, where they use the money generated to climb up the ladder to become even more powerful. Even the biggest countries with the strongest systems struggle with these conflicts of interest.

[Hispo]

It should be that no politician should get involved with gambling be it as a gambler or as an operator or businessman that focuses on it. That goes against the rule of law that they're lawmakers and they can make laws favoring their business which is all about gambling that can give them even incentives instead of punishments. This should go with their principles and while there's really a big tax that comes from the gambling industry, let it be alone managed by those that have no political interest.

I mostly agree on your post. But if we want to have a free and fair society where all people have the same rights, then it would not be fair for politicians to be forbidden to gamble.

They are in public service so officials and even just government employees are expected to observe highest ethical work standards, it's on every government policy and laws. If they want to held on their hobby or these kind of things then better off on that position.
But since we are living on such corrupt and unfair world, laws and policies are only applicable on civilians and other lower class. Powerful people, government officials are exempted on this except if justice is served properly.

I obviously disagree. I do not think that one is supposed to give up on ones hobby because the job or position that ones has. That is rather against individual freedoms.

If we live in a fair and just Republic, we are supposed to be able to do whatever we want with our own money, as long as it is not illegal and we are not inflicting harm on anyone. The only exception I can think of, would be if someone decided to dedicate their life to religion and could not gamble, but that would be also a personal choice.

So, as long as the public funds are left untouched I am fine with politicians gambling or drinking.

[PX-Z]

I obviously disagree. I do not think that one is supposed to give up on ones hobby because the job or position that ones has. That is rather against individual freedoms.

Whether you agree or disagree that's how every county who has strict gambling regulations runs their gambling related policies especially here in my place. If you don't want to be held for such policies better not to enter such kind of position.

[ImThour]

So a Politician who is also a great businessman then decided to be part of the most trending market in the world as of now, what's wrong with that?
Who is stopping you to own a share or part of a gambling company if you are licensed and paying all your taxes. I don't have any problem with this.

[pawanjain]

“Sabong” or the placing of bets on live cockfighting is an established tradition in the Philippines that dates as early as three thousand (3,000) years ago. The gaming activity is essentially placing two roosters/cocks in an arena and betting on which between the two comes out victorious.

I do not think it is what they even accept as gambling is Philippines by some people. But if it is accepted as gambling, it is stated in the news that it was legal before when the man was involved in it.

If the government legalize gambling, anyone can be involved in gambling. But countries will have their own rules about government officials to be involved in gambling or not.

If sabong is cock fighting then with e-sabong I think they are putting the cock fight online
That must be funny though, watching cocks fighting online. LOL.

I did a search and found it's actually real. There are 2 e-sabong which shows cock fights and accepts bets on those.
source: https://www.businessnews.com.ph/who-owns-legal-e-sabong-or-online-sabong-companies-in-the-philippines-20210510/

[jrrsparkles]

Gambling is a form of business too so we can't restrict someone from doing it and its inappropriate too because of an single individual used it for bad intentions. Instead of creating policy against gambling business why not have a strict policy against who commits such crimes like they have to be spent life in prison or atleast they can't able to participate in any form of election when they have crime records.

[maydna]

A politician never thrives on a gambling platform. They are able to achieve their own interests everywhere through corruption. Politicians should not come to gambling platforms as they see everything through the eyes of politics, they will cause harm to common gamblers. Because the purpose of current politics is not public service, but the main purpose is how to grow by depriving the people. The corruption of politicians concerned businessmen creates lack of coordination among the organizations and the organizations will not do anything against the will of the government or administration.

Politicians can come to gambling platforms, and they can do it quietly. Also, they won't say what illegal businesses he owns so he can make more money or make money to campaign and still be elected as a politician. We already know many politicians are corrupt and do many illegal ways to have money to participate in campaigns or raise more money while they are still in government. Politicians with experience running many illegal businesses know how to avoid being tracked by honest and clean government people.

[passwordnow]

I agree about auditing them but being a public servant, there will be critics that will be all eyes on them and that's why if they're already in the public post, they should halt or at least don't get involved with anything related to gambling even if it's their livelihood.
But in developing countries, we'll see politicians like them to just sworn that they'll avoid gambling and stop their business or won't get a touch of it. And, they're all just words and talk is cheap. Nothing wrong if they're done being a public servant but while they're still on their duty, it should be avoided by them.

That is the keyword there "public" servant, so everything you do, all eyes is going to be on you, so whether positive or negative, there are ways that your enemies can destroy you like if they found out that you are one of the operators or behind the development of gambling platform and very instrumental on the proliferation of it. So for me, if you are elected by the public, it's better to stay away from that kind of perception, just do your job as a public servant and not involved yourself in gambling, IMHO.

Right, they've got to just avoid and maintain their posture away from any gambling-related matter. Whether as an owner or just a casual gambler, that's where the conflict begins if they won't get away from it.

This absolutely tells us people that despite money rules and laws implemented by the authority, it can't be perfectly serves to everyone or fair to all, some leaders we're still able to twist it. This is not new, many of the illegalities happen the country is ruled by these big leaders, who dare to stop them? Not the implementing bodies but just their competitors and they are killing each other.

I can say that there is no way to stop them. They use their position and make use of it as their power to take advantage of others that is why even if it was illegal, it is still operating because nobody will be able to stop it and nobody is willing to sacrifice their lives.

That's one sad reality but we can just hope that there will be someone mightier than of these folks. They all want to take every position and power that they can but aren't willing to subject themselves under the law if it's being required to them.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I disagree, if gambling is legal at a country then any person regardless of their political affiliation should be able to establish a casino if that is what they want to do.

Free enterprise is one of the cornerstones of our modern age, there were many eras and civilizations in which this was not possible, and if you were born into a particular social class then you could not hope to perform any occupation other than that one regardless of your preferences or your talents, something which slowed down our progress, so if a politician wants to open a casino then I do not see anything wrong with it.

There's a taboo for a public servant to be engaged with this type of business. We'll never know how far they can go if they never stop themselves engaged in it. Although this example is far from being a public official, there have been employees that have been entrusted by their companies' funds and then they've gambled it. This is also possible to happen wherein they might just throw the money into their business that's not theirs.

[TheGreatPython]

When there is a high rate of poverty among the public/citizens or becomes hard for them to have a choice to make in whgovernsrn the affairs of the state,  and even though the power to elect a new leader is left to the citizens to vote in the leader,  high rate of corruption will not allow for true and fair elections.

And since most of the politicians are ready to spend a lot of money just to buy the votes from the improvised voters it then becomes easy for the politicians with the big bag holders to always win the elections and this has become a normal practice all over the world.

And back to whether the politicians own the gambling site/business, there is no gain in saying that we don't know the many escapism that has been played on several occasions that point to this fact also unless for the few of other casinos whose owners may be out of government to do such things.

I wonder how many countries are suffering from this corruption and all where a leader is superior to everyone else and he does everything that benefits him but nothing for the country. Politicians in certain countries can go to any extent to have higher gains for them to retire before the proposed age and enjoy their life.

When it comes to gambling platforms or owning casinos, I don't think that a politician will ever be left out since it is one of the most profitable businesses out there if one can manage it well and makes it quite popular.

[virasisog]

A politician in the Philippines claimed to have had a hand in the development of the very controversial e-sabong platform he operated e-sabong so he can make a lot of money so he can use for the campaign, and his family to win local elections because the election in the Philippines is very costly many candidates are buying votes to secure their win, there were reports that he murdered their family's opponent because of e-sabong.
Do you think that government should have a rule or a law for election candidates not to have a franchise in any form of gambling, in fact, there are a lot of politicians who are operators of illegal small-town lotteries this is to accumulate funds they can use for election campaigns.

Congressman confirms past stint with e-sabong when it was not yet banned by gov’t

In the Philippines, this is typical and has been taking place for a while. Many politicians profit from gambling and utilize it to raise significant sums of money that they can use to win elections. Even powerful politicians might see that there are legislators who enjoy gambling, but because they profit from them as well, they don't do action to stop it.
Even though the homicide was widely reported, the politician was nevertheless able to refute the charges by offering fabricated evidence and bribed witnesses. Even if money controlled everything, I trust their opponent would still be given justice.
Speaking of E-sabong, many people are still unaccounted for and may have died as a result of this illicit activity. A little over 40 persons have been missing and still questionable until now. It's tragic that because of their power, money may genuinely govern everything and easily kill lives.

[BitcoinPanther]

It should be that no politician should get involved with gambling be it as a gambler or as an operator or businessman that focuses on it. That goes against the rule of law that they're lawmakers and they can make laws favoring their business which is all about gambling that can give them even incentives instead of punishments. This should go with their principles and while there's really a big tax that comes from the gambling industry, let it be alone managed by those that have no political interest.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I disagree, if gambling is legal at a country then any person regardless of their political affiliation should be able to establish a casino if that is what they want to do.

I agree and the government should be precise on their law.  If there is a law that forbids government official to own a gambling platform then that should be enforced. It is as easy as that.

Free enterprise is one of the cornerstones of our modern age, there were many eras and civilizations in which this was not possible, and if you were born into a particular social class then you could not hope to perform any occupation other than that one regardless of your preferences or your talents, something which slowed down our progress, so if a politician wants to open a casino then I do not see anything wrong with it.

Still, it depends on the existing law.  Not because free enterprise is one of the cornerstones of the modern age, it should bypass the law?  If the law states that owning a gambling platform is not for the government official and even forbid them to own one, it should be followed.  But if there is nothing about it then the government official can own as many gambling platform as they can.
 

[Cookdata]

A politician never thrives on a gambling platform. They are able to achieve their own interests everywhere through corruption. Politicians should not come to gambling platforms as they see everything through the eyes of politics, they will cause harm to common gamblers. Because the purpose of current politics is not public service, but the main purpose is how to grow by depriving the people. The corruption of politicians concerned businessmen creates lack of coordination among the organizations and the organizations will not do anything against the will of the government or administration.

Every politician has an interest in anything that enriches their pocket, they do gambling not because they want the profit alone but because they also use it to launder money that is meant for the economic structure, citizen's money, and money meant for arrears settlement and all this attribute to corruption, this is why the government is very harsh on gambling when it comes to regulations, the government only allow them have a franchise but owning one will be hard to track their public work progress.

Money laundering is very easy to do where there is a large in-out of money and this happens everywhere but Politicians are very good at absconding public money and when they do this, they washed it through this process and when the regulation is not tough with gambling, they pass freely, this is why you see that the government is very concern when it comes to gambling and regulation.

[Webetcoins]

Gambling is a form of business too so we can't restrict someone from doing it and its inappropriate too because of an single individual used it for bad intentions. Instead of creating policy against gambling business why not have a strict policy against who commits such crimes like they have to be spent life in prison or atleast they can't able to participate in any form of election when they have crime records.

Well, if it's a country that has a good judicial system and there is law and order, I don't think a politician from such a country would first use any money for things that are illegal or at least not allowed for a politician to be done just like owning a casino or something. Even if they do own one, they wouldn't use the funds earned through it for their political activities.

And if the country itself is full of corrupt politicians and there is bribery almost everywhere, I don't think that there can be any rule or regulation against such things especially if a politician is involved since they will have the power to clear any charge or order by the judicial system.

[AicecreaME]

Gambling is a form of business too so we can't restrict someone from doing it and its inappropriate too because of an single individual used it for bad intentions. Instead of creating policy against gambling business why not have a strict policy against who commits such crimes like they have to be spent life in prison or atleast they can't able to participate in any form of election when they have crime records.

Well, if it's a country that has a good judicial system and there is law and order, I don't think a politician from such a country would first use any money for things that are illegal or at least not allowed for a politician to be done just like owning a casino or something. Even if they do own one, they wouldn't use the funds earned through it for their political activities.

And if the country itself is full of corrupt politicians and there is bribery almost everywhere, I don't think that there can be any rule or regulation against such things especially if a politician is involved since they will have the power to clear any charge or order by the judicial system.

In our country, it is prohibited to be involved in any operations related to gambling if you are a government official. This is to avoid the reputation of public officials to be tainted as well as to avoid being caught having dirty money. Gambling connections and participations whether legal or illegal, the responsibility is on the hands of the politicians to stay away from it as much as possible so that there won't be conflict of interest in any point of view.

If a country is known to have a corrupt government and system, the more it is essential to prohibit the involvement since as you said, bribery and other illegal activities that could stem from gambling might be done, but since they have the upper hand, they will get away with it unscathed.

[Peanutswar]

It seems I'm quite late with this discussion well, the recent happenings in the government and politics of the Philippines is, as always with generation. Most of the politicians make their family involved in this. That's why there are a lot of age passing through that comes up to decades. This recent thing is there are a lot of people here whose hobby is cockfighting this becomes part of their culture, and this pandemic, some of the people can't make it into the real derby because of the pandemic issues that are why the e-sabong arise, or online cockfight. Many people are getting addicted to it, but the government shows up concern immediately because of the case of some people until now are still missing due to playing this cockfighting. The government proceeded with a law regarding full stop operating related to this e-sabong. Politicians use this to earn more money and because of poor actions with the government with authorities they cant stop this due to have a high class reputation.

A memorandum from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR.